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.” 

Regulation

Pension “Reform” Goes to Gov. Rendell

  • November 15, 2010

HARRISBURG, PA — The Commonwealth Foundation expressed disappointment with today’s passage of House Bill 2497, which defers significant pension costs on to…

Press Release

Read More: Pension “Reform” Goes to Gov. Rendell

Regulation

HB 2497 Increases Pension Unfunded Liabilities

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 15, 2010

As we’ve pointed out, PSERS own charts show that the reform would leave the pension fund dangerously close to 50% funded—the…

Media

Read More: HB 2497 Increases Pension Unfunded Liabilities

Regulation

Unwarranted Police Raids

  • November 15, 2010

Last week, the Daily Caller featured an article from the Institute for Justice (IJ), which revealed that police in Florida are raiding barbershops for drugs without search warrants,…

Media

Read More: Unwarranted Police Raids

How Did Lawmakers Vote on HB 2497?

  • November 15, 2010

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives voted 165-31 to pass HB 2497 today during a lame-duck session. Below you can find the full roll call…

Press Release

Read More: How Did Lawmakers Vote on HB 2497?

Regulation

Trying to Redefine “Savings” in HB 2497

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • November 15, 2010

While many legislators we’ve spoke to agree that we need to move public employees into a Defined Contribution retirement plan—which HB 2497 doesn’t do—and away from the current Defined…

Media

Read More: Trying to Redefine “Savings” in HB 2497

Regulation

The Politics of Pensions: Why the Taxpayers Lose

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • November 14, 2010

On Friday’s conference call regarding HB 2497, the Union Pension Bailout Bill (because it bails out the union from real pension reform), someone asked why there were so few…

Media

Read More: The Politics of Pensions: Why the Taxpayers Lose

Regulation

Media and Bloggers Highlight Coming Pension Battle

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 14, 2010

In advance of Monday’s vote on HB 2497, the Union Pension Bailout—and afraid folks would be caught unaware of this lame-duck effort—the Commonwealth Foundation issued an action alert;…

Media

Read More: Media and Bloggers Highlight Coming Pension Battle