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

What Do France, Hungary and Pennsylvania Have in Common?

  • Priya Brannick
  • August 30, 2011

A Hungarian, a Frenchman and a Pennsylvanian walk into a bar…okay, so they may not have the same tastes in beer, but turns out they would have the same ability…

Media

Read More: What Do France, Hungary and Pennsylvania Have in Common?

Taxes & Economy

Estimating Marcellus Shale’s Economic Impact

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 30, 2011

A new study from Penn State’s Marcellus Shale Education & Training Center estimates that natural gas drilling in Marcellus Shale created 24,000 jobs in Pennsylvania and added $3.1 billion…

Media

Read More: Estimating Marcellus Shale’s Economic Impact

Regulation

Preserving Penn’s Woods Proven by Public-Private Partnerships

  • August 30, 2011

Earlier this month, Gov. Tom Corbett suggested the commonwealth consider leasing state park operations and services. Almost immediately and without thoughtful consideration, pundits launched political fire, claiming "privateers" would exploit…

Commentary

Read More: Preserving Penn’s Woods Proven by Public-Private Partnerships

Taxes & Economy

Scorecard: Toomey Scores, Casey Fumbles for Pa.

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • August 26, 2011

Yesterday, Heritage Action released its legislative scorecard for all members of the 112th U.S. Congress. The scorecard can be searched by name, state or even zip code. Current…

Media

Read More: Scorecard: Toomey Scores, Casey Fumbles for Pa.

Education

Teacher Strikes

  • August 26, 2011

Good afternoon, my name is Pearre Dean and I am Deputy Director of Public Affairs at the Commonwealth Foundation, Pennsylvania’s free-market think tank that crafts free-market policies, convinces Pennsylvanians of…

Testimony

Read More: Teacher Strikes

Taxes & Economy

Marcellus Shale Local Impact Fee

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • August 26, 2011

Good evening. I am Elizabeth Stelle, a Policy Analyst for the Commonwealth Foundation. We are Pennsylvania’s free market think that crafts and promotes free-market policies based on guiding principles like…

Testimony

Read More: Marcellus Shale Local Impact Fee

Education

The Real Crime in Philadelphia’s School District

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • August 24, 2011

Last year, we blogged on the hefty $65,000 bonus Philadelphia’s Superintendent Arlene Ackerman collected. Her annual base salary, $348,140, was higher than what superintendents collect in New York City,…

Media

Read More: The Real Crime in Philadelphia’s School District

Walmart Waives Wistful Wine Waste

  • August 24, 2011

It appears the wistful wine wizards who wished to foist the fermented farce of their conniving kiosk caper have been brought a big blow to their Big…

Media

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Education

Green Light More Education Tax Credits

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • August 24, 2011

Would you ever give a green light or a hard-earned nickel to a business model that showed it was going to hire more staff to service fewer customers by doubling…

Commentary

Read More: Green Light More Education Tax Credits

Public Union Democracy

When Union Bosses Make Stuff Up, We Offer Facts

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 23, 2011

In a story by PA Independent, AFL-CIO head honcho Rick Bloomingdale attempts to deny the incredible job growth in right-to-work states like Texas. Bloomingdale comments: “Most likely, the…

Media

Read More: When Union Bosses Make Stuff Up, We Offer Facts

Taxes & Economy

EPA Regs Kill PA Jobs

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • August 22, 2011

Cap and Trade may be officially dead in Congress but the EPA is busy resurrecting it in a far more disastrous policy agenda that kills thousands of Pennsylvania jobs and…

Media

Read More: EPA Regs Kill PA Jobs

Taxes & Economy

Marcellus Drilling not Increasing Local Government Costs

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • August 18, 2011

A new study from the Marcellus Shale Center for Outreach and Research at Penn State provides an analysis of the cost to local government from Marcells Shale drilling. With…

Media

Read More: Marcellus Drilling not Increasing Local Government Costs