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.” 

Taxes & Economy

EPA Quietly Drops Flawed Fracking Study

  • Gordon Tomb
  • July 8, 2013

With all of its enormous resources, the federal government’s capacity to influence exceeds even that of Hollywood and Madison Avenue. That is why it is so disconcerting when Washington…

Media

Read More: EPA Quietly Drops Flawed Fracking Study

Public Union Democracy

Big Government Party Blocks Bold Reforms

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • July 8, 2013

Why haven’t liquor privatization and pension reform passed yet here in Pennsylvania? The reason is that the true divide in the General Assembly is not between the Republicans and Democrats,…

Commentary

Read More: Big Government Party Blocks Bold Reforms

Public Union Democracy

Government Unions Torpedo Agenda

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 3, 2013

The state budget deadline came and went without passage of any of the “Big Three” policy items—liquor store privatization, pension reform, or transportation tax and fee increases. It was clear…

Media

Read More: Government Unions Torpedo Agenda

Regulation

Consumers Still Waiting for Convenience

  • July 2, 2013

Consumers still demand convenience when it comes to purchasing alcohol, according to a story in the Patriot News, despite the General Assembly’s delay on passing liquor privatization until after…

Media

Read More: Consumers Still Waiting for Convenience

Health Care

Lawmakers Stand up for Taxpayers, Reject Medicaid Expansion

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • July 2, 2013

Yesterday, 108 House Representatives voted to protect taxpayers from an expansion of the broken and unaffordable Medicaid program. You can thank them here. Medicaid expansion is an optional part of…

Media

Read More: Lawmakers Stand up for Taxpayers, Reject Medicaid Expansion

Public Union Democracy

Disappointing Budget Shows Need to Keep Fighting

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • July 1, 2013

This past weekend was not for the political faint of heart. Special interests, led by government union bosses and crony capitalists, prevented real liquor privatization and effective pension reform from…

Media

Read More: Disappointing Budget Shows Need to Keep Fighting

Regulation

Liquor Liberty Coming to PA?

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • June 29, 2013

Early this morning, the Pennsylvania Senate passed an amendment written by Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi to the historic liquor privatization bill that passed the House three months ago. …

Media

Read More: Liquor Liberty Coming to PA?