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

No CONSOLation from PSU’s PC Move

  • February 25, 2011

It seems the number of Penn State graduates who are upset at recent actions of their alma mater grows by the…

Media

Read More: No CONSOLation from PSU’s PC Move

Regulation

Benefits of Liquor Store Privatization for Pennsylvanians

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 25, 2011

Good morning. I am Nathan Benefield, Director of Policy Research for the Commonwealth Foundation.  We are a nonprofit, independent public policy research and educational institute based in Harrisburg.

Testimony

Read More: Benefits of Liquor Store Privatization for Pennsylvanians

Taxes & Economy

Environmentalists Blow Recent Rule Change out of Proportion

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • February 24, 2011

Reactions to the Corbett administration’s revoking of mandatory impact reports on state lands targeted for drilling fail to see the big picture. Comments from environmentalists imply that without an extra…

Media

Read More: Environmentalists Blow Recent Rule Change out of Proportion

Regulation

And the Oscar for Higher Taxes Goes to?

  • February 24, 2011

Given that Gov. Corbett may end Pennsylvania’s $75 million film tax credit program, the film industry is out in force to prove it’s more unique than other industries, saying it…

Media

Read More: And the Oscar for Higher Taxes Goes to?

PLCB’s Scheme to Preserve Power

  • February 23, 2011

This week, we received the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board’s semi-secret alternative to liquor store privatization given to legislators-a scheme to preserve its power. This proposal goes beyond the typical…

Media

Read More: PLCB’s Scheme to Preserve Power

Education

Three Reasons for School Choice

  • February 23, 2011

A few recent editorial pieces have highlighted the variety of reasons Pennsylvania needs more school choice for parents and students. A recent Philadelphia Inquirer article by Benjamin F. Chavis,…

Media

Read More: Three Reasons for School Choice

Film Tax Credit: Economics vs. Movie Star Sightings

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 22, 2011

It’s hard to argue economics against the “I saw Denzel Washington at Starbucks” factor—but debate over the merits of the film tax credit should be decided on the former.

Media

Read More: Film Tax Credit: Economics vs. Movie Star Sightings