Elizabeth Stelle
Vice President of Policy
Elizabeth leads the organization’s research and policy initiatives, focusing on expanding freedom and prosperity in Pennsylvania. Since joining the organization in 2008, she has researched and written extensively on education, energy, the state budget, and healthcare policy.
Her work has contributed to significant policy victories in Pennsylvania, including blocking tax increases, expanding educational-choice opportunities, and enacting a constitutional amendment to strengthen checks on executive power.
A frequent media commentator, Elizabeth’s analysis has appeared in Pennsylvania newspapers, radio, and television outlets, including the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and The Philadelphia Inquirer, as well as in national outlets, such as The Wall Street Journal.
She is a former America’s Future chapter chair and remains active in her community by volunteering with local nonprofits and serving as a foster parent. Elizabeth holds a degree in history from Grove City College and makes her home in the Pittsburgh area with her husband and four children.
State Budget
How the $650 Million Tax Increase Impacts You
The state budget is, for all intents and purposes, complete. While it remains unbalanced, we now know exactly which taxes are going up. The $650 million tax hike passed by the…
Media
Read More: How the $650 Million Tax Increase Impacts YouState Budget
Lower State Spending Could Improve Bond Rating
Last week Moody’s warned an out-of-balance state budget could result in another credit downgrading. By not acting to balance the budget, Governor Wolf is aiding in the devaluation of the…
Media
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One of these things is not like the others . . .
Remember this popular song from the children's show Sesame Street? It goes, “One of these things is not like the others, one of these things doesn't belong. . .”…
Media
Read More: One of these things is not like the others . . .State Budget
Broad Heating Tax Would Hit Millions
Last week, lawmakers and the governor agreed to a $31.6 billion budget, a five percent increase in spending from last year and the largest one-year jump in spending since 2006.
Media
Read More: Broad Heating Tax Would Hit MillionsEducation
2015 SAT Scores
The SAT, or Scholastic Aptitude Test, is an important indicator of public education quality in Pennsylvania. Currently, the commonwealth ranks 36th out of the 50 states and 3 US territories (Washington…
Media
Read More: 2015 SAT ScoresState Budget
Which Taxes Might be Going Up?
Less than one week remains before the state budget deadline, and details are slowly emerging about a $31.5 billion spending plan. This $1.5 billion spending increase would be the largest spending…
Media
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Harrisburg Should Curb Waste, Not Fund It
What do waking up, driving to work, and stopping at Starbucks have in common? Each of these seemingly mundane activities is impacted by state taxes. It’s time to break this…
Commentary
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Three Reasons to Avoid Tobacco Taxes
Media reports indicate the state House is formulating a tobacco tax package to raise an estimated $500 million. The proposal reflects Wolf’s original plan to raise cigarette…
Media
Read More: Three Reasons to Avoid Tobacco TaxesTaxes & Economy
Energy Mandates a Double Whammy
Alternative energy mandates raise the cost of living and make it harder for people to find work. These are the findings of a new paper on the government's futile efforts…
Media
Read More: Energy Mandates a Double WhammyPublic Union Democracy
PA’s Long Tradition of Faux Pension Reform
Pennsylvania's pension problem is nothing new. Over the years, lawmakers have tried to salvage the fundamentally broken system instead of creating a system that works. The latest attempt, SB…
Media
Read More: PA’s Long Tradition of Faux Pension ReformRegulation
Latest Plan Could Grow the Pension Iceberg
On the heels of bipartisan wine reform, the PA House is reportedly considering a pension reform plan that could actually increase pension costs. Known as a stacked-hybrid plan, the current bill…
Media
Read More: Latest Plan Could Grow the Pension IcebergRegulation
5 Reasons to Continue the Push for Liquor Privatization
Some lawmakers and the media have labeled the latest liquor reforms as “historic” and “sweeping.” The Patriot-News described the reform as the “most substantial overhaul of Pennsylvania's liquor system…
Media
Read More: 5 Reasons to Continue the Push for Liquor PrivatizationRegulation
Shell Cracker Plant Proves Taxes Matter to Job Creators
Workers hit by the natural gas slump in western PA received some much needed good news this week. Shell announced they will proceed with building a multibillion dollar chemical…
Media
Read More: Shell Cracker Plant Proves Taxes Matter to Job CreatorsEducation
Ghost Teaching Put to Rest?
Are ghost teachers about to be put to rest? Ghost teachers in Pennsylvania would be strictly limited under legislation approved by the state House Education Committee today. HB 2125 restricts…
Media
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Lawmakers Identify Billions in Budget Savings
Today the Taxpayers' Caucus, lead by state Rep. Seth Grove (R-Dover) and Sen. Scott Wagner (R-York), released a comprehensive report identifying over $3 billion in potential savings to Pennsylvania…
Media
Read More: Lawmakers Identify Billions in Budget SavingsEducation
An Easy Way to Give School Budgets a Boost
“I want to put more education dollars in our classrooms, not our school buses,” said Auditor General Eugene DePasquale, while releasing an analysis of 19 school districts that exceeded…
Media
Read More: An Easy Way to Give School Budgets a Boost
Unions Targeting Vulnerable Pennsylvanians
Dave Smith’s life was turned upside down when Gov. Wolf issued an Executive Order letting the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) with the help of AFSCME (American Federation of…
Media
Read More: Unions Targeting Vulnerable PennsylvaniansTaxes & Economy
The $20 Billion Energy Tax
More than ten years after its passage, Pennsylvania's Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards continue to stunt our economy. The standards cost the state $4 billion annually, according to a study…
Media
Read More: The $20 Billion Energy TaxTaxes & 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
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