Erik Telford

Media Contact
media(at)commonwealthfoundation.org

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.”

Pa. unemployment benefits deal won’t address debt

June 20, 2011

Topics on this page Pennsylvania…

Media Hit

Founding Fathers’ Rally Draw Hundreds to Kittanning

June 20, 2011

Media Hit

Education

Children Can’t Wait for PSEA to “Fix” Violent, Failing Schools

Matthew Brouillette
June 16, 2011

The PSEA sent a memo to the House of Representatives discouraging legislators from sponsoring legislation that would throw lifelines to children in violent, failing schools. I also sent the following…

Media

Education

Curt Schroder Offers Universal School Voucher Bill

Nathan Benefield
June 16, 2011

State Rep. Curt Schroder has also outlined two school choice bills he plans to introduce in the Pennsylvania House in the very near future. One is targeted to students in…

Media

Education

How Taxpayers are Funding Big Labor’s Education Failures

Elizabeth Stelle, Nathan Benefield
June 16, 2011

More than $92 million in taxpayer dollars for public education is being funneled through school districts back to these special interest groups, including the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and…

Commentary

Christiana Unveils Students and Schools Rescue Act

Matthew Brouillette
June 15, 2011

Only hours after speaking eloquently at our forum releasing our school choice video today, my friend Jim Christiana announced a new bill he is introducing to throw a…

Media

Education

New Video: Lifeline – Rescuing Kids When Schools Fail

Elizabeth Stelle
June 15, 2011

In 2009, students trapped in our worst performing public schools endured seven rapes, 163 robberies, and two official riots. Those simple—and terrifying—facts haven’t been a big enough part of the…

Media

Regulation

Not Paying Pension Bills Hurts our Grandkids

Richard Dreyfuss
June 15, 2011

Politicians last year passed their version of pension reform by deferring existing unfunded liabilities, making them even more unaffordable. The situation was so severe that they felt compelled to include…

Commentary

Delaying pension payments hurts our kids and grandkids

June 15, 2011

Media Hit

Public Union Democracy

Shippensburg Asks for Prevailing Wage Relief

Nathan Benefield
June 14, 2011

Shippensburg Borough Council recently passed a resolution asking for state relief from prevailing wage mandates. Prevailing wage mandates were imposed 50 years ago in Pennsylvania, following federal Davis-Bacon Act…

Media

Regulation

Inky Sinks Pink Drink Stink

June 14, 2011

A hearty hoorah and hat tip goes to the Philadelphia Inquirer today for their spot-on editorial blasting the PLCB’s perestroika campaign, whereby they call beleaguered booze bumblers, “Orwellian.” In analysis of…

Media

State Budget

Unemployment Compensation Reform on Tap

Elizabeth Stelle
June 13, 2011

This week, the House is expected to take up SB 1030, which would change Unemployment Compensation guidelines to ensured continue benefits for about 45,000 Pennsylvanians and help bring the…

Media

Tea Party Gears Up For 2012 In Contentious School Voucher Fight

June 12, 2011

Topics on this page Tea party…

Media Hit

Taxes & Economy

Biofuel Failure becomes Natural Gas Success

Elizabeth Stelle
June 10, 2011

Pat Copple owns a biodiesel plant in Monaca, or at least he did until May when he started to convert his operation into a Marcellus wastewater treating facility. Copple says the…

Media

Taxes & Economy

Fracking Friday

Nathan Benefield
June 10, 2011

There are several good articles and studies worth reading on natural gas drilling, Marcellus Shale and fracking: Katrina’s commentary on the local impact of natural gas drilling appears in today’s…

Media

Study says a third of employers could cut health insurance by 2014

June 10, 2011

Media Hit

Taxes & Economy

PA Property Tax Administration 2nd Worst in Nation

June 9, 2011

This past May, the commonwealth tied for second worse in the nation in state property tax administration, according to the Council On State Taxation (COST). States were evaluated in…

Media

The real victims of a severance tax

June 9, 2011

Media Hit

Education

Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying at Pitt

Elizabeth Stelle
June 8, 2011

A reader shared the letter below from the University of Pittsburgh. It urges all parents and students to contact their state legislators and protest higher education cuts in the proposed…

Media

Taxes & Economy

The Real Victims of a Severance Tax

June 7, 2011

Jim VanBlarcom, a busy Bradford County dairy farmer, set a work day aside to come to Harrisburg and tell his story to Gov. Tom Corbett's Marcellus Shale panel. Royalty money…

Commentary

Education

Pennsylvania Education Spending Update

Nathan Benefield
June 6, 2011

Since our budget facts on Pennsylvania Education Spending, the PA Department of Education (PDE) has released updated data on school spending and revenue, through the 2009-10 school year.

Media