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.” 

Education

Political Fairness Issue Goes Before Lawmakers

  • June 5, 2014

For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 Legal Loophole Exploits Taxpayers & Union Members for Politics Paycheck Protection Promises to Restore Fairness & Accountability June 5,…

Press Release

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Public Union Democracy

Capitol Rally an Outcry for Fairness: The Facts on Paycheck Protection

  • June 4, 2014

For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 Capitol Rally Reflects Public Outcry for Fairness Lawmakers to Hear Testimony on Paycheck Protection Tomorrow June 4, 2014, Harrisburg, Pa—Today,…

Press Release

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Education

Five Facts on Pennsylvania Public Schools

  • June 4, 2014

The Pennsylvania Department of Education recently released its annual summary of public school finances for the 2012-13 school year. Here are some basic facts about school finances and spending,…

Fact Sheet

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Regulation

Archaic Laws and Eight-Foot Walls

  • June 4, 2014

Pennsylvania’s Prohibition-era liquor laws did nothing but provide headaches for two entrepreneurs, demonstrating yet again the absurdity of our state liquor code. Danya Henninger at the Philadelphia Inquirer…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Should Taxpayers Pay for Strippers?

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • June 3, 2014

Should individuals be able to spend their welfare benefits on liquor, tobacco, gambling or strippers? Currently, they can. House Bill 907 would codify Department of Welfare electronic benefit card…

Media

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Union Quietly Admits to Using Teachers’ Dues for Politics

  • June 2, 2014

This post first appeared on Commonwealth Foundation’s PolicyBlog. Whenever we talk about how teacher and other government unions spend their members’ dues on politics, the most common reaction we…

Media

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Public Union Democracy

Union Quietly Admits to Using Dues for Politics

  • Priya Brannick
  • June 2, 2014

Whenever we talk about how teacher and other government unions spend their members’ dues on politics, the most common reaction we hear is that simply isn’t true. Workers often hear…

Media

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Health Care

Will Modified Medicaid Expansion Bring Needed Reforms?

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • May 30, 2014

While Pennsylvania waits to learn the fate of the Healthy PA waiver, Indiana is making headlines as the latest state to propose a modified expansion. The Healthy Indiana Plan…

Media

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Education

Pension Reform Benefits Teachers & Taxpayers

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 30, 2014

Standard & Poor’s recently issued a stern warning that they would lower Pennsylvania’s bond rating—making it more expensive for the state to borrow money—unless they “adopt meaningful pension reform.” This…

Commentary

Read More: Pension Reform Benefits Teachers & Taxpayers