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

100,000+ Improperly Get Pa. Med Benefits

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • October 27, 2011

Yesterday, the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare testified that hundreds of thousands of individuals were improperly receiving Medicaid, taxpayer-funded health care for the poor and the disabled. Capitolwire writes:…

Media

Read More: 100,000+ Improperly Get Pa. Med Benefits

Government Accountability

Government Unions Steal Worker Freedom

  • Priya Brannick
  • October 27, 2011

Pennsylvania is one of 28 states in which workers can be compelled to give part of their paycheck to a union just to keep their job.  Moreover, even non-membership is…

Commentary

Read More: Government Unions Steal Worker Freedom

Government Accountability

Pennsylvania’s Government Unions

  • October 27, 2011

Pennsylvania is a forced union state, meaning that workers can be forced to join a union or pay a "fair share fee" just to keep their job.  Most government units…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Pennsylvania’s Government Unions

Education

Pa. Kids are Learning ZIP!

  • October 27, 2011

You’ve heard of A Tale of Two Cities?  Well, how about the tale of two city blocks?  For 82,000 kids trapped in violent and failing…

Media

Read More: Pa. Kids are Learning ZIP!

Education

34 Seconds of Truth Vs. $2 million of Fallacy

  • October 26, 2011

It’s getting late in Harrisburg and defenders of the education status quo are pulling out all the stops in order to thwart a rescue of 82,000…

Media

Read More: 34 Seconds of Truth Vs. $2 million of Fallacy

Education

Facts vs. Silly Rhetoric on School Choice

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 26, 2011

Tonight, I am speaking at a forum on school choice, and wanted to find some absurd, outlandish, and easily refuted claims from school choice opponents to lead with. Thanks…

Media

Read More: Facts vs. Silly Rhetoric on School Choice

Regulation

Did Union Boss Young Read Wrong Liquor Study?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 26, 2011

The union boss who earns nearly $300,000 each year by forcing liquor store employees to pay dues to his union released a statement regarding the PFM group’s report…

Media

Read More: Did Union Boss Young Read Wrong Liquor Study?

Regulation

Highlights from Governor’s Liquor Privatization Summary

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 25, 2011

Gov. Tom Corbett released a long-awaited study from The PFM Group on state liquor store privatization. Click here for the full study (nearly 300 pages), or here to get…

Media

Read More: Highlights from Governor’s Liquor Privatization Summary

Education

WIFM? All the Difference in the World

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • October 25, 2011

As Gov. Corbett and the General Assembly consider a package of education reform bills, some legislators are asking “What’s in it for me?”  The WIFM question isn’t necessarily selfish or…

Media

Read More: WIFM? All the Difference in the World

Education

Rep.: Pa. Ed Needs 1st Class Not Third-World Results

  • October 25, 2011

One of the most controversial and emotional issues facing our Commonwealth involves the future of the education system. The media's attempt to reduce nearly every major complicated issue…

Commentary

Read More: Rep.: Pa. Ed Needs 1st Class Not Third-World Results

Education

School Choice Saves, School Choice Sells

  • Charles Mitchell
  • October 25, 2011

Harrisburg is atwitter this morning as the Senate Education Committee is voting on school choice legislation.  Let’s quickly rebut three myths that are circulating: School choice saves money.  It’s…

Media

Read More: School Choice Saves, School Choice Sells

Education

Ackerman: School Choice Necessary to Reform Failing Schools

  • Priya Brannick
  • October 24, 2011

In case you missed it, former Philadelphia superintendent Arlene Ackerman emphatically endorsed vouchers and an expanded charter school system as the best way to rescue kids in failing schools.  She writes:…

Media

Read More: Ackerman: School Choice Necessary to Reform Failing Schools

Education

Want a 70% Approval Rating?

  • Charles Mitchell
  • October 24, 2011

Let’s be real.  One of the things that often gets CF into trouble is that from the outside, it seems like we never need to worry about whether the free-market…

Media

Read More: Want a 70% Approval Rating?

Regulation

Will Liquor Liberty Have to Wait Another Year?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 24, 2011

The Patriot News obtained a draft copy of the forthcoming study on liquor store privatization commissioned by Gov. Tom Corbett. According to the story, the report predicts auctioning…

Media

Read More: Will Liquor Liberty Have to Wait Another Year?

Education

School Choice: Accountable and Successful

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 21, 2011

Here is a recent letter I submitted to the Delaware County Times: A recent story carries the title, “Educators oppose guv’s voucher plan,” though the story quotes no…

Media

Read More: School Choice: Accountable and Successful

Taxes & Economy

Blame Game No Jobs Gain

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 20, 2011

Pennsylvania House Democrats put out an email blaming Gov. Corbett and Republicans for a lousy economy: Since Republicans passed the Corbett budget in June, unemployment in Pennsylvania has risen more…

Media

Read More: Blame Game No Jobs Gain

Regulation

Knowles’ Bill Puts Taxpayers Above Special Interests

  • October 20, 2011

Liquor store union president Wendell Young appears to be on a campaign to discredit any lawmaker that favors removing the state’s monopoly stranglehold over liquor sales. You can…

Media

Read More: Knowles’ Bill Puts Taxpayers Above Special Interests

Taxes & Economy

Pennsylvania Natural Gas Jobs Doubled in Last Three Years

  • October 20, 2011

The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry released their latest Marcellus Shale Fast Facts, illustrating the important economic stimulus that drilling represents to the commonwealth. Key Findings Include: Marcellus…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvania Natural Gas Jobs Doubled in Last Three Years

Education

Willie and Penny Can’t Read

  • October 19, 2011

We'll call them Willie, Penny, Ben and Frankie, four public school students from Philadelphia, Reading, Harrisburg and Pittsburgh, respectively.  If they don't drop out of school and become clients of…

Commentary

Read More: Willie and Penny Can’t Read