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

Top 5 Blog Posts of 2013

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 30, 2013

As 2013 winds to a close, we thought we’d run down the top stories of the past year.  Here are Commonwealth Foundation’s top 5 blog posts, as chosen by you…

Media

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Your Fair Share Fee Questions Answered

  • December 19, 2013

Following Rob’s e-mail this month on why he resigned from his union and became a fair share fee payer, we received questions on the process involved. Well,…

Media

Read More: Your Fair Share Fee Questions Answered

Education

PODCAST: StudentsFirst & Performance Profiles

  • December 19, 2013

In our latest podcast, Ashley DeMauro, PA state director for StudentsFirst, discusses Pennsylvania’s recently implemented school performance profiles. What do they measure? How can parents learn about their…

Media

Read More: PODCAST: StudentsFirst & Performance Profiles

Education

Philadelphia’s Education Crisis Worsens

  • December 19, 2013

More than 80 percent of 4th and 8th grade students in the School District of Philadelphia didn’t reach proficiency in math and reading, according to the Nation’s Report Card. When…

Media

Read More: Philadelphia’s Education Crisis Worsens

Public Union Democracy

The Unemployed Need Opportunities, Not Handouts

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 19, 2013

Those suggesting the federal government continue its temporary extension of unemployment benefits point to our stagnant economy and high unemployment as justification.  But, in truth, these results have been caused…

Commentary

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I Retired Early: Here’s Why

  • December 18, 2013

It’s no secret to fellow educators that I do not agree with much of the Pennsylvania State Education Association’s dogma. I especially disliked the Union frequently wanting me to…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

More Than Their Fair Share

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • December 17, 2013

A fair and sound tax policy requires that people or businesses pay for the government they use, including the cost of extracting natural gas.  Yet despite the passage of a…

Media

Read More: More Than Their Fair Share

Health Care

“Healthy PA:” What’s It All Mean?

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • December 13, 2013

Last Friday, Gov. Corbett released full details of his Healthy PA initiative, which seeks to expand government-funded health insurance under Obamacare (using Medicaid expansion funds to pay private insurance…

Media

Read More: “Healthy PA:” What’s It All Mean?

Education

Outdated Seniority Rules Harm Pittsburgh Students

  • Priya Brannick
  • December 12, 2013

Yesterday, we reported that the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers is trying to lower evaluation standards for teachers it had previously helped craft. Under Pittsburgh’s new system, which goes into…

Media

Read More: Outdated Seniority Rules Harm Pittsburgh Students

Teachers on Union Exploitation – Part 2

  • December 12, 2013

Julie Raab and Keith Williams are speaking out about how union influence affects their teaching jobs. They, and many teachers across the state, are fed up with Pennsylvania’s…

Media

Read More: Teachers on Union Exploitation – Part 2

Education

Teachers’ Union Wants Lower Teacher Standards

  • Priya Brannick
  • December 11, 2013

Four years ago, Pittsburgh School District, the second-largest in Pennsylvania, embarked on an innovative effort to evaluate teachers. Administrators and the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers (PFT) collaborated to create…

Media

Read More: Teachers’ Union Wants Lower Teacher Standards