Elizabeth Stelle
Director of Policy Analysis
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.
Taxes & Economy
Pennsylvanians Flee from High Taxes
New census figures paint a sobering picture. In 2015 alone, Pennsylvania lost 41,600 residents to other states in net migration. This amounts to one person every 12.5 minutes, nearly…
Memo
Read More: Pennsylvanians Flee from High TaxesPublic Union Democracy
Pension Debt Grows by Another Billion
Last week the State Employees' Retirement System (SERS) announced its total unfunded liability increased from $18.44 billion in 2015 to $18.79 billion. In truth, SERS'…
Media
Read More: Pension Debt Grows by Another BillionGovernment Accountability
Tomorrow’s Two Ballot Questions for Every Party
Tomorrow's primary election is largely a partisan affair in which only registered Republicans or Democrats can vote for the presidential nominee and nominees for state office. But there is one…
Media
Read More: Tomorrow’s Two Ballot Questions for Every PartyTaxes & Economy
(Un)Happy Tax Freedom Day!
(Un)Happy Tax Freedom Day! If you thought Tax Day was April 15, think again. Today, April 22, is actually the day by which Pennsylvanians…
Media
Read More: (Un)Happy Tax Freedom Day!Government Accountability
Historic Victory for Transparency
Gov. Tom Wolf just signed Senate Bill 644, empowering the Independent Fiscal Office to estimate the cost of government union contracts before they are finalized. Matthew Brouillette, president and…
Media
Read More: Historic Victory for TransparencyEducation
Governor Wolf’s 2015-16 Budget Myths
Governor Wolf claimed the 2015-16 budget could not be balanced without significant tax hikes. But there are two ways exist to close a budget deficit: raise revenue or cut spending.
Memo
Read More: Governor Wolf’s 2015-16 Budget MythsState Budget
Victory Over Wolf Tax Hikes
Pennsylvania's 267 day budget impasse has finally come to an end…with a taxpayer victory! HB 1801 will become law without Tom Wolf's signature. The governor refuses to sign the budget,…
Media
Read More: Victory Over Wolf Tax HikesHealth Care
6 Reasons Obamacare is a Failure
Lower costs? Improved access? Six years later, the Affordable Care Act still falls painfully short of these noble goals. Years after most of the ACA's “goodies” have been implemented,…
Media
Read More: 6 Reasons Obamacare is a FailureGovernment Accountability
Big Win for Transparency
One year ago, Governor Tom Wolf began negotiating contracts worth billions of dollars with state employee unions. Despite his rhetoric about improving government transparency, these negotiations took place behind closed doors.
Media
Read More: Big Win for TransparencyRegulation
PA Faces Another Costly EPA Mandate
President Obama’s energy tax—also known as the Clean Power Plan—is just one of many EPA mandates stifling Pennsylvania’s economy. One mandate in particular imposes enormous costs on Pennsylvania farmers and…
Media
Read More: PA Faces Another Costly EPA MandateState Budget
Wolf’s Bad Budget Bluffs
The Senate just passed and the House will soon vote on another no-tax-hike, balanced budget for fiscal year 2015-16. Gov. Wolf has already promised to veto it. Remarkably, the governor…
Media
Read More: Wolf’s Bad Budget BluffsGovernment Accountability
Gov. Wolf’s Self-Created Constitutional Conflict
Rep. Bill Adolph accused the Wolf administration of creating a budget crisis during Thursday's final House Appropriations Committee budget hearing. In an op-ed published Friday,…
Media
Read More: Gov. Wolf’s Self-Created Constitutional ConflictTaxes & Economy
See Yinz Later
The commonwealth, on net, loses one person every 12.5 minutes. Some say it's all about the weather, but a recent Gallup poll found another reason. Across…
Media
Read More: See Yinz LaterTaxes & Economy
The Dark Side of Raising the Wage
Eunice Medina is a childcare worker living in Oakland, California. Last March, the city instituted a $12.55 minimum wage, leaving Eunice with fewer workdays and reduced hours. Across the…
Media
Read More: The Dark Side of Raising the WageEnergy
Governor Wolf’s Natural Gas Tax Proposal
Governor Wolf continues to press for a natural gas severance tax despite ongoing layoffs and potential bankruptcies in the natural gas industry.
Fact Sheet
Read More: Governor Wolf’s Natural Gas Tax ProposalPublic Union Democracy
How Pennsylvania’s Labor Laws Trap Union Members
Pennsylvania's labor laws keep union members in the dark. Union members rarely have the opportunity to voice their opinion through elections or resign their membership. A lack of transparency makes…
Memo
Read More: How Pennsylvania’s Labor Laws Trap Union MembersEducation
Ghost Teachers Cost Allentown Millions
Allentown School District is no stranger to financial troubles. The third largest public school system in the commonwealth has been in financial distress for years. In 2011, the district…
Media
Read More: Ghost Teachers Cost Allentown MillionsTaxes & Economy
The Fair Share Fallacy
What is the natural gas industry's “fair share” of taxes? The answer depends on the calendar year. An analysis from the Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) finds the current “impact fee” is effectively a 5.5…
Media
Read More: The Fair Share FallacyTaxes & Economy
Press Pause on Clean Power Plan
In a historic move, the US Supreme Court stayed the EPA's Clean Power Plan, otherwise known as Obama's energy tax or stealth cap and trade. The court’s actions halt implementation…
Media
Read More: Press Pause on Clean Power PlanHealth Care
The Trouble with Medicaid Expansion
As yesterday's deadline to enroll in an Obamacare marketplace insurance plan quietly passed, Gov. Wolf is boasting about Medicaid expansion—a major component of the federal government's health care overhaul.
Media
Read More: The Trouble with Medicaid ExpansionRegulation
PPA Picks Cartels over Consumers
Jon Brennan’s Audi S4 was impounded by Philadelphia police because he’s an UberX driver. Emails uncovered by the Philadelphia Inquirer reveal that the Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA) has thrown…
Media
Read More: PPA Picks Cartels over Consumers