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.” 

Health Care

What Does Election Mean for Obamacare?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 12, 2012

While exit polling shows a majority of voters support full or partial repeal of the Affordable Care Act, this outcome remains unlikely. President Obama will not reverse his…

Media

Read More: What Does Election Mean for Obamacare?

Regulation

Pension Crisis Deniers Debunked

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 12, 2012

Last Thursday night, Katrina Currie debated the AFL-CIO’s Rick Bloomingdale on PCN’s call in show on the public pension crisis. Bloomingdale largely argued that there was no crisis (at least…

Media

Read More: Pension Crisis Deniers Debunked

Public Union Democracy

Election Lesson: Bring Wisconsin to Pennsylvania

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 8, 2012

The Wall Street Journal today writes about “Big Labor’s Losses” in Tuesday’s election. This may seem hard for many Pennsylvanians to fathom, given the role government union bosses…

Media

Read More: Election Lesson: Bring Wisconsin to Pennsylvania

Government Accountability

Election Night Live Chat

  • November 6, 2012

Election Day is here.  If you haven’t yet taken the time to go out and cast an informed vote, please be sure to do so before polls close at 8…

Media

Read More: Election Night Live Chat

Public Union Democracy

Election Day: 5 Things to Remember

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 6, 2012

1. The election results won’t slay Goliath.  The special interests who feed off of tax dollars—government union bosses, trial lawyers, extreme greens, crony capitalists that rely on corporate welfare,…

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Read More: Election Day: 5 Things to Remember

Regulation

Sultans of Syrah Snub Sunshine Act

  • November 5, 2012

According to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review’s stunning Saturday story, the scandalous Sultans of Syrah systematically snubbed the state’s Sunshine Act. Referring to the backdoor government-branded wine and spirits that have…

Media

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State Budget

Debt or Prosperity? It’s Our Choice

  • November 2, 2012

Can Americans afford slower economic growth and a lower standard of living in the future? That will be the impact of growing government debt on the economy, according to a…

Media

Read More: Debt or Prosperity? It’s Our Choice

Regulation

Poll: Pennsylvanians Powerfully Plea for Privatization

  • November 2, 2012

Ever wonder if you were alone in your desire for freedom from the Czars of Zinfandel?  Wonder no more, comrades. According to a recent poll commissioned by the Philadelphia…

Media

Read More: Poll: Pennsylvanians Powerfully Plea for Privatization

Regulation

How Big is the Pension Bomb?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 1, 2012

Taxpayers will have to pay $1,385 more each year for 30 years to fully pay off pension liabilities, according to a new study on the cost of pension plans…

Media

Read More: How Big is the Pension Bomb?

Taxes & Economy

Will Shale Boom Change Election?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 1, 2012

The shale gas boom has boosted the economy in key battleground states like Ohio and Pennsylvania, which may help President Obama, despite his hostility towards fracking—the process which…

Media

Read More: Will Shale Boom Change Election?

Regulation

PLCB Chair Tastes Sour Grapes, Selects Probe

  • October 31, 2012

Waiting for the new Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board booze boss to make a monopolistic menu of Chairman’s Selection?  Well there’s a new sommelier in town and he’s found a great new…

Media

Read More: PLCB Chair Tastes Sour Grapes, Selects Probe

Public Union Democracy

What Mitt Is Missing

  • October 31, 2012

Union bosses always profess to care most about the rights of members. But a careful reading of a feverish sermon in the left-of-center magazine In These Times reveals that their…

Media

Read More: What Mitt Is Missing

Education

Pa. Teachers Unions Among America’s Most Powerful

  • Priya Brannick
  • October 31, 2012

Pennsylvania’s teachers unions rank fourth among all U.S. states in their strength and influence, according to a report released this week from the Fordham Institute. We trail only Hawaii,…

Media

Read More: Pa. Teachers Unions Among America’s Most Powerful