Erik Telford

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Erik Telford

Senior Vice President of Public Affairs

Erik Telford is the Senior Vice President of Public Affairs at the Commonwealth Foundation.

Erik is a senior public affairs and communications executive with more than 15 years of diverse experience across public policy, advocacy, and public affairs institutions. Before joining the Commonwealth Foundation, Erik served as the senior vice president at Stand Together Communications, the Koch network’s marketing and communications capability. Erik has also served as the president of the Franklin Center for Government & Public Integrity, a state-based watchdog journalism organization. And at Americans for Prosperity, he was the executive director of RightOnline (an initiative he founded) and the director of membership and online strategy. He is currently on the board of the American Commitment Foundation.

In 2013, Campaigns & Elections Magazine honored Erik as an “Advocacy Innovator” and in 2011 as a “Rising Star in American Politics.”  Politics Online named him one of the “Top 10 Who Are Changing the World of Internet and Politics.” 

State Budget

Lack of Priorities Triggers PA Budget Crisis

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • June 23, 2014

Pennsylvania has a prioritization problem. Recent controversies about the State Racing Fund and the legislature’s reserve fund provide two examples of why Pennsylvania consistently wrestles with budget crises. Auditor General…

Media

Read More: Lack of Priorities Triggers PA Budget Crisis

Public Union Democracy

Mailbag: How will SuperPACs Affect Pennsylvania?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 20, 2014

A PolicyBlog reader asked if we could explain a recent “SuperPAC” ruling we covered in an op-ed back in April, along with its implications for state and national elections.

Media

Read More: Mailbag: How will SuperPACs Affect Pennsylvania?

State Budget

Can Taxpayers Weather the Budget Storm?

  • June 19, 2014

For the seventh consecutive year, Pennsylvania state government is projected to spend more money than it collects in taxes. Facing a deficit of nearly $1.3 billion, families may be asked…

Commentary

Read More: Can Taxpayers Weather the Budget Storm?

Public Union Democracy

End Teacher Bullying with Paycheck Protection

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 18, 2014

As most PolicyBlog readers already know, union dues are being used for political action. Moreover, taxpayer resources are used to collect both union dues and union campaign contributions. We at…

Media

Read More: End Teacher Bullying with Paycheck Protection

Public Union Democracy

Triple Threat Pension Debt

  • June 18, 2014

At more than $50 billion in debt our pension plans for state and school workers are among the worst funded in the country. Without reform, Pennsylvanians face cuts to services, teacher layoffs, higher…

Poll

Read More: Triple Threat Pension Debt

Regulation

RCAP and Corporate Welfare Hurt Pennsylvanians

  • June 18, 2014

What would you do if the government spent your tax dollars on a project that could bankrupt your business? Would you fight back by pointing out the injustice? Hopefully you’re…

Media

Read More: RCAP and Corporate Welfare Hurt Pennsylvanians

Teachers Urge Reform of Pension System

  • June 18, 2014

With Pennsylvania’s pension system for public school employees some $33 billion in debt, lawmakers are looking for ways to save a system that could add an additional $900…

Media

Read More: Teachers Urge Reform of Pension System

Education

Why I Left Teaching: Union Politics

  • June 17, 2014

I taught science full-time for more than two decades and enjoyed a rewarding career educating a generation of public school students in Westmoreland County. I retired from teaching earlier than…

Commentary

Read More: Why I Left Teaching: Union Politics

Health Care

There’s No Such Thing as a Temporary Expansion

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • June 17, 2014

Last week, the House Health and Human Services Committee advanced HB 1492 to accept the Obamacare Medicaid Expansion. This move would shift the purpose of Medicaid from caring for vulnerable…

Media

Read More: There’s No Such Thing as a Temporary Expansion

Public Union Democracy

AFSCME Memo Lies About Dues & Politics

  • June 17, 2014

Some union leaders are bullying their members to support their political agenda. Don’t believe me? Read this: Each fair share fee payer is a sign of weakness. It tells…

Media

Read More: AFSCME Memo Lies About Dues & Politics

Public Union Democracy

Spreading the Paycheck Protection Message

  • June 16, 2014

It’s crunch time in Harrisburg. With lawmakers scheduled to break for summer recess in two weeks, the push for paycheck protection has intensified. To help spread the message of paycheck…

Media

Read More: Spreading the Paycheck Protection Message

Education

Union Leaders’ Lobbying Hurts Teachers, Students

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 16, 2014

Last week we highlighted a California judge who ruled that laws enforcing teacher seniority and tenure were unconstitutional and violated students’ rights to a quality education. But here in…

Media

Read More: Union Leaders’ Lobbying Hurts Teachers, Students

Education

Politics Threatens Progress in Pittsburgh

  • June 13, 2014

Results from Pittsburgh’s new teacher evaluation system were unveiled today, identifying both excellent teachers and those that need improvement. The goal of this new evaluation system is to allow the…

Media

Read More: Politics Threatens Progress in Pittsburgh

Regulation

Union Lobbyists Not Interested in Solving Pension Crisis

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 13, 2014

My latest letter to the editor in the Phoenix Reporter and Item corrects the record, noting that government union leaders have for years denied a pension crisis, supported underfunded pensions for…

Media

Read More: Union Lobbyists Not Interested in Solving Pension Crisis