Elizabeth Stelle

Director of Policy Analysis

Elizabeth Stelle is the Director of Policy Analysis at the Commonwealth Foundation.

Elizabeth has researched and written on government reform, health care, welfare, energy, and government transparency. Her work has been featured in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Patriot-News, Philadelphia Inquirer, and a variety of radio and television programs throughout the commonwealth. Elizabeth is a graduate of Grove City College where she earned a bachelor’s degree in history.

A native of Ohio, Elizabeth makes her home in the Pittsburgh area with her husband and four children. She enjoys swimming, traveling to historic landmarks and exploring the moral foundations of capitalism.

Education

“Grow PA” Offers a Higher-Ed Reform Model for the Nation

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • June 13, 2024

Originally published at the James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal Too often, lawmakers want to fix higher education by blindly throwing money at the problem. From President Joe…

Media Hit

Read More: “Grow PA” Offers a Higher-Ed Reform Model for the Nation

Education

Pa. schools don’t need more money, students need alternatives

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • June 8, 2024

Originally published at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette School districts know how to add, but not Pennsylvania students. Statewide scores show declining student outcomes despite historic public education spending. Pennsylvania school…

Media Hit

Read More: Pa. schools don’t need more money, students need alternatives

Health Care

Petty politics and bad regulations hinder telemedicine

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • June 2, 2024

Originally published at The Patriot-News Dr. Marlene Wüst-Smith practiced telemedicine before it became popular during the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, government restrictions sometimes hinder her ability to practice this…

Media Hit

Read More: Petty politics and bad regulations hinder telemedicine

Regulation

Why is rural broadband so challenging? Government red tape, mostly.

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • May 21, 2024

Originally published at Broad + Liberty Politicians celebrate taxpayer funds pouring into Pennsylvania to “bridge the digital divide.” Last month, U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) praised the approval of…

Media Hit

Read More: Why is rural broadband so challenging? Government red tape, mostly.

Education

Senate Higher Education Proposal is a Step in the Right Direction

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • April 25, 2024

Originally published at Delaware Valley Journal A lot of bad plans on how to make higher education affordable exist. There is Gov. Josh Shapiro’s vague “blueprint,” which lacks…

Media Hit

Read More: Senate Higher Education Proposal is a Step in the Right Direction

Education

If Josh Shapiro wants to compete with Ohio, he needs to imitate Ohio

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • February 12, 2024

Originally published at The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Gov. Josh Shapiro is right: Pennsylvania is losing to Ohio. In the last two years, Pennsylvania witnessed a net loss of 2,425 residents and…

Media Hit

Read More: If Josh Shapiro wants to compete with Ohio, he needs to imitate Ohio

Prosperity

Pennsylvania Needs Regulatory Reform

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • January 8, 2024

Originally published at RealClearPennsylvania Katie Walsh owns and operates two businesses: a tattoo parlor and a spa. If she could, Walsh would merge her two businesses. Pennsylvania’s onerous regulations,…

Media Hit

Read More: Pennsylvania Needs Regulatory Reform

Health Care

Getting Insurance is Simple. Getting Care is Not

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • December 14, 2023

Originally published at RealClearHealth ‘Tis the season for health insurance. Open enrollment for Medicare, employer-sponsored insurance, and Pennie plans are in full swing. Plans are plentiful and highly subsidized.

Media Hit

Read More: Getting Insurance is Simple. Getting Care is Not

Energy

RGGI’s downfall gives Shapiro a unique opportunity to create an energy policy that benefits the economy and environment

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • November 14, 2023

Originally published in The Morning Call The Commonwealth Court’s long-awaited decision against entry into the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative gives Gov. Josh Shapiro an incredible opportunity. RGGI, a debacle Shapiro…

Media Hit

Read More: RGGI’s downfall gives Shapiro a unique opportunity to create an energy policy that benefits the economy and environment

Health Care

The Personal Option for Health Care in Pennsylvania

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • November 8, 2023

Summary Keep and expand the health care systems that work: Protect Direct Primary Care (DPC) practices. Allow expanded Association Health Plans (AHPs) so small businesses can offer more affordable coverage.

Backgrounder

Read More: The Personal Option for Health Care in Pennsylvania

Regulation

PA Regs Shut Doors to Economic Opportunity

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • October 12, 2023

Originally published in Delaware Valley Journal Gov. Josh Shapiro recognizes how government regulations come between Pennsylvanians and job opportunities. In his first week, Shapiro acted on his campaign promise…

Media Hit

Read More: PA Regs Shut Doors to Economic Opportunity

Education

History shows Gov. Shapiro’s next move matters

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • July 29, 2023

Originally published in The Patriot-News The next few months are critical to Gov. Josh Shapiro’s legacy, and he knows it. The 2023–24 state budget, due June 30th, remains…

Media Hit

Read More: History shows Gov. Shapiro’s next move matters

Education

Pennsylvania’s education system is broken: here’s how to fix it

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • June 1, 2023

Originally published in The Patriot-News Are Pennsylvania schools underfunded? Before COVID-19, 52 percent of Pennsylvania voters thought so. Then, after voters learned the actual price tag, this number dropped…

Media Hit

Read More: Pennsylvania’s education system is broken: here’s how to fix it

Welfare

Medicaid Eligibility Matters

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • May 22, 2023

Originally published at RealClearPennsylvania Should a health-care program for low-income seniors, the disabled, kids, and pregnant mothers be co-opted by hundreds of thousands of healthy adults? Adults not even…

Media Hit

Read More: Medicaid Eligibility Matters

Welfare

Unwinding Medicaid Continuous Enrollment

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • April 10, 2023

Summary On April 1, Pennsylvania returned to normal Medicaid eligibility rules and began a year-long process of redetermining eligibility for all 3.68 million beneficiaries.Medicaid spending grows faster than our state…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Unwinding Medicaid Continuous Enrollment

Welfare

Medicaid needs a better ‘normal’ in Pa.

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • April 7, 2023

Originally published in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review This month, Medicaid is finally returning to normal — but “normal” was never that great. Currently, an estimated 600,000 ineligible Pennsylvanians…

Media Hit

Read More: Medicaid needs a better ‘normal’ in Pa.

Prosperity

What is real freedom?

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • April 2, 2023

Originally published at LNP Gov. Josh Shapiro likes to talk about “real freedom” — a familiar campaign promise repeated eight times in his inaugural speech and twice in his…

Media Hit

Read More: What is real freedom?