Erik Telford

Media Contact
media(at)commonwealthfoundation.org

Request an Interview Headshot

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.” 

Public Union Democracy

Union Members Support Paycheck Protection

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 18, 2014

Last week, my colleague Bob wrote in the Patriot News that union leaders are waging a “war on truth” by attacking paycheck protection but ignoring the real issue: whether…

Media

Read More: Union Members Support Paycheck Protection

Public Union Democracy

Survey: Union Members Overwhelmingly SUPPORT Paycheck Protection!

  • February 18, 2014

For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 Survey: Union Members Overwhelmingly SUPPORT Paycheck Protection! Large majority want unions, not government, to collect their dues and…

Press Release

Read More: Survey: Union Members Overwhelmingly SUPPORT Paycheck Protection!

Public Union Democracy

A War on Truth

  • February 14, 2014

Should you be forced to subsidize government union politics? That’s the question asked by a reform gaining steam in Harrisburg called paycheck protection. But you wouldn’t know it by listening…

Commentary

Read More: A War on Truth

Health Care

Liberal Group Screams “Murder” over Medicaid Expansion

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • February 14, 2014

This week, John Micek called out Keystone Progress on his Pennlive.com blog for what he termed a “disgusting” email that “has no place in our discourse.” What provoked this…

Media

Read More: Liberal Group Screams “Murder” over Medicaid Expansion

Taxes & Economy

Warning to PA: Alternative Energy Subsidies Damage Europe

  • Gordon Tomb
  • February 12, 2014

State legislators who advocate for an expansion of government incentives for alternative energy sources need to pay attention to the events happening across the pond where the European Commission is…

Media

Read More: Warning to PA: Alternative Energy Subsidies Damage Europe

Education

7 Little-Known Facts on Pennsylvania Public School Spending

  • Priya Brannick
  • February 11, 2014

For years, teachers unions in Pennsylvania have claimed the governor cut $1 billion from schools. But the real story is more complicated. A huge influx of federal stimulus funding expired,…

Media

Read More: 7 Little-Known Facts on Pennsylvania Public School Spending

Public Union Democracy

Local Governments Push for Paycheck Protection

  • February 10, 2014

We’ve already highlighted the national attention paycheck protection received from the Wall Street Journal and Investor’s Business Daily. Now local governments in Pennsylvania are pushing for an end to…

Media

Read More: Local Governments Push for Paycheck Protection

State Budget

Pennsylvanians Are Losing Economic Freedom

  • Bruce Cornibe
  • February 7, 2014

Pennsylvanians are losing economic freedom according to the Fraser Institute’s annual report, Economic Freedom of North America 2013. The commonwealth is slowly losing ground ranking 33rd in 2009 and…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvanians Are Losing Economic Freedom

Public Union Democracy

Sen. Alloway Talks Paycheck Protection on the Lincoln Radio Journal

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • February 6, 2014

Senator Richard Alloway sat down with host David Taylor and CF‘s Matt Brouillette on a recent Lincoln Radio Journal to discuss what paycheck protection would mean for Pennsylvania. Senator Alloway explains how…

Media

Read More: Sen. Alloway Talks Paycheck Protection on the Lincoln Radio Journal

State Budget

5 Facts About the State Budget Proposal

  • Elizabeth Stelle, Nathan Benefield
  • February 6, 2014

The 2014-15 Pennsylvania State Budget proposal is more than 1000 pages, but we’ve boiled it down to five facts taxpayers you need to know 1. State Spending is at an All-Time…

Media

Read More: 5 Facts About the State Budget Proposal

State Budget

State Budget Déjà Vu

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 5, 2014

Ceremonies in Punxsutawney have come and gone, but every year Groundhog Day reminds me of the film of the same name—in which Bill Murray lives the same day over and over…

Commentary

Read More: State Budget Déjà Vu