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.” 

Reckless Scheme or Reckless Ad?

  • May 14, 2013

The United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) is spending a million in order to save a million—every year! The UFCW announced a $1 million statewide television ad buy attacking…

Press Release

Read More: Reckless Scheme or Reckless Ad?

Public Union Democracy

Reckless Scheme or Reckless Ad?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 13, 2013

The United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) is spending a million in order to save a million—every year! The UFCW announced a $1 million statewide television ad buy attacking…

Media

Read More: Reckless Scheme or Reckless Ad?

Regulation

Why Privatizing Liquor Wholesale Matters to You

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • May 10, 2013

As liquor privatization discussions are occurring in the Senate, some have suggested maintaining the PLCB’s wholesale monopoly while simply turning state retail stores over to private sellers. After all, Pennsylvania…

Media

Read More: Why Privatizing Liquor Wholesale Matters to You

Government Accountability

A Life Well Lived: Gov. George M. Leader

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • May 9, 2013

This morning, Pennsylvania lost its oldest living governor:  George M. Leader, a York County Democrat who served from 1955 to 1959.  My colleagues and I had the great pleasure of…

Media

Read More: A Life Well Lived: Gov. George M. Leader

Regulation

Pension Crisis Facts: Is the Stock Market to Blame?

  • May 9, 2013

Pennsylvania’s two main pension systems, the Public School Employees’ Retirement System (PSERS) and the State Employees’ Retirement System (SERS), are dramatically underfunded. Together these plans have more…

Media

Read More: Pension Crisis Facts: Is the Stock Market to Blame?

Did Legislation in 2010 Fix the Pension Crisis?

  • May 8, 2013

This post originally ran in Commonwealth Foundation’s PolicyBlog. For more on pensions, see the timeline of the crisis, common myths vs. facts, and what your pension…

Media

Read More: Did Legislation in 2010 Fix the Pension Crisis?

Education

Cyber Schools Save Students

  • May 8, 2013

Recently, cyber schools have been attacked in the media and in the legislature as “too expensive” and “a drain on public education.” Nothing could be further from the truth.

Media

Read More: Cyber Schools Save Students

Education

Cyber Charter Chat with Rep. Truitt

  • May 8, 2013

Rep. Dan Truitt (R-Chester) joined us for a Google Hangout this afternoon to discuss charter and cyber charter schools in Pennsylvania. Rep. Truitt, a parent of cyber school students,…

Media

Read More: Cyber Charter Chat with Rep. Truitt

Regulation

New Life for Landmark Pension Reform

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 7, 2013

Landmark pension reform legislation was unveiled today, as the Commonwealth Foundation stood with Gov. Tom Corbett, state lawmakers, business leaders, school board members and other groups.  The new bills, introduced…

Media

Read More: New Life for Landmark Pension Reform

Regulation

Public Pensions: Past, Present, and Future

  • May 6, 2013

Pennsylvania needs pension reform that provides state workers with a sustainable retirement system that’s fair to new workers, existing employees and taxpayers.  This publication addresses the common myths and benefits…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Public Pensions: Past, Present, and Future

Health Care

Four Reasons to Avoid Medicaid Expansion

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • May 6, 2013

Medicaid expansion is bad news for all Pennsylvanians. Here are four reasons why: 1. Expansion undermines the quality of health care. Medicaid patients suffer from limited access to care. A…

Media

Read More: Four Reasons to Avoid Medicaid Expansion

Regulation

Why We Can’t Just “Let Act 120 Work”

  • May 6, 2013

In a guest post, State Rep. Glen Grell addresses the pension reform myth that Act 120 has fixed the pension crisis.  For more facts & myths, click here. The…

Media

Read More: Why We Can’t Just “Let Act 120 Work”