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.”
Hybrid pension reform plan for future school and state employees draws mixed reviews
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Pennsylvania Food and Commercial Workers Union Has Misreported Lobbying Since 2011
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N.J. pension fund troubles echo in Pa.
Topics on this page New JerseyPennsylvania…
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Commission Signs Off on Actuarial Analysis of “Rescue Effort” Pension Reform Plan, Skepticism Abounds
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Report: Pa. needs a 401(k)-style plan for employees
Topics on this page Pennsylvania…
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Use School Reserves to Fund Pensions
In 2013, Pennsylvania school districts increased their reserve funds by $445 million—to a total approaching $4 billion as of June 30, 2013—according to the latest data from…
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Power Cycle Preventing Progress
In a recent Philadelphia Inquirer editorial, the paper expressed its frustration with the lack of progress on critical issues facing the commonwealth. While CF doesn’t agree that all of…
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Pension Study: PA’s Economy Can Still Be Saved
For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 It’s Not Too Late to Save PA’s Economy Pension Reform: Learning from Others May 27, 2014, Harrisburg, Pa. – Pennsylvania…
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Stopping the Sinkhole
Evidence from the private sector and some reformed public sector pension programs shows that pension reform is possible and creates significant savings to firms in the private sector and taxpayers…
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Philadelphia Charter Schools Fight for Students
In the search for a solution to its nearly $30 million year-end deficit—not to mention a projected $216 million budget gap next year—the School District of Philadelphia is once…
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The Detroit Bailout and Meaningful Pension Reform
Topics on this page Detroit…
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PA Teacher Speaks Out on Union Issues
Last Wednesday, CF President Matt Brouillette guest hosted WHP580’s Ken Matthews Show in Harrisburg. Matt spent some time talking to Keith Williams, a high school English teacher from New Oxford…
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2014 Pennsylvania State Budget
Governor Corbett's proposed budget of $29.4 billion in General Fund spending (a 3.3% increase) and $71.8 billion in spending from all funds represents Pennsylvania's highest spending levels ever—exceeding years when…
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Simple Solutions for Significant State Savings
Pennsylvania is plagued with budget challenges, but these challenges don’t have to defeat us. We have solutions aimed at improving PA’s fiscal health while growing its economy. In previous…
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Government Union CEOs Make Their Own Rules
When questioned about why he failed to register as a lobbyist, UFCW president Wendell Young IV excused himself with a special exemption from the law that doesn’t exist. He told…
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Union leaders under fire for unregistered lobbying
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PA Tops in Corporate Welfare
Pennsylvania’s system of economic development subsidies costs taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars annually, yet this spending does little to promote overall job growth. Given the state’s fiscal hurdles,…
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Gov. Unions Play Fast & Loose with the Law
They’re exempt from stalking and harassment laws during labor disputes, and they’re allowed to use taxpayer resources to collect money for candidates and political ads on a daily…
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