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.
Taxes & Economy
Leader of the Free World?
What do Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates and Canada have in common? Their citizens all enjoy more economic freedom than Americans. According to the 2015 Economic Freedom of the World Index,…
Media
Read More: Leader of the Free World?Public Union Democracy
Setting the Record Straight on Pensions
Government union leaders argue against meaningful pension reform with radical rallying cries like, “Your pension is under attack!” and mounds of other misinformation. Here's a quick fact check on some…
Media
Read More: Setting the Record Straight on PensionsState Budget
Tax Hikes Threaten Debbie’s Flower Shop
Debbie is a small business owner. She operates Pealer's Flowers with her husband in Camp Hill, and they're worried about Gov. Tom Wolf's tax hikes. Debbie explains: “We're all doing…
Media
Read More: Tax Hikes Threaten Debbie’s Flower ShopGovernment Accountability
Too Close for Comfort: Gov. Wolf and SEIU
New documents obtained by the Commonwealth Foundation (publicized by the Post-Gazette in a recent story) show a frightening closeness between Gov. Wolf and union leaders, particularly leaders at the SEIU. In…
Media
Read More: Too Close for Comfort: Gov. Wolf and SEIUTaxes & Economy
Governor Wolf’s Proposed Natural Gas Extraction Tax
Gov. Tom Wolf proposed a new severance tax on natural gas extraction, which he claims will generate more than $1 billion annually for public schools. The proposal fails to consider…
Memo
Read More: Governor Wolf’s Proposed Natural Gas Extraction TaxRegulation
Could Coal’s Savior be PA’s Legislature?
180 workers in CONSOL Energy’s coal division recently lost their jobs. Now, Pennsylvania’s legislature may be the only thing standing between the Obama administration and complete destruction of the…
Media
Read More: Could Coal’s Savior be PA’s Legislature?Government Accountability
Transparency 10 Years after the Pay Raise
Today marks the 10th anniversary of the midnight pay raise. Although it was ultimately repealed, the pay raise was a dark hour in Pennsylvania political history. Over the…
Media
Read More: Transparency 10 Years after the Pay RaisePublic Union Democracy
Pivotal Pension Reform Passes to Wolf
Yesterday, the General Assembly passed landmark legislation to free homeowners from skyrocketing property taxes, make school budgets go further, and protect public employees from politics. SB 1 bill reforms…
Media
Read More: Pivotal Pension Reform Passes to WolfHealth Care
Losers Outnumber Winners Under King v Burwell Decision
Yesterday’s US Supreme Court decision to uphold taxpayer subsidies on healthcare.gov brought a collective sigh of relief to Pennsylvanians, like Barbara, who depend on subsidies to make health insurance…
Media
Read More: Losers Outnumber Winners Under King v Burwell DecisionTaxes & Economy
30,000 Future Jobs at Risk
Middle class job opportunities are at risk. We all know that strong middle class employment is at the heart of a healthy economy, but Gov. Wolf’s massive tax increases would…
Media
Read More: 30,000 Future Jobs at RiskHealth Care
Affordable Care Act Brings Unaffordable Premium Hikes
Pennsylvania insurance companies are asking for dramatic premium hikes on exchange plans. Highmark underestimated the cost of care for individuals on the exchange and is now requesting a 23%…
Media
Read More: Affordable Care Act Brings Unaffordable Premium HikesTaxes & Economy
Reforming the Welfare Benefits Cliff
Imagine you’re a single mom earning $47,000 a year (or $22.59 an hour) working full-time as an assistant manager at large department store. Your boss pulls you aside with great…
Media
Read More: Reforming the Welfare Benefits CliffHealth Care
State Health Care Exchange: A Dangerous Contingency Plan
A week ago Governor Wolf announced his plan to create a state-based health care exchange if the U.S. Supreme Court nixes taxpayer subsidies to insurance companies through the federal…
Media
Read More: State Health Care Exchange: A Dangerous Contingency PlanState Budget
The Next 1,360 Days
Governor Wolf marked his 100th day in office by providing a list of accomplishments. In reality, the memo is more of a status update since many of his initiatives, including…
Media
Read More: The Next 1,360 DaysHealth Care
Unlike Medicaid, Charity Clinics Lead to Independence
This week marks the beginning of Pennsylvania’s transition from Healthy PA to full Medicaid expansion. Over 100,000 beneficiaries were transferred to the traditional one-size-fits-all healthcare plan known for limited…
Media
Read More: Unlike Medicaid, Charity Clinics Lead to IndependenceTaxes & Economy
Pennsylvanians Are Working Longer for the Government
Last Saturday Pennsylvanians passed an important milestone: Tax Freedom Day. This is the day Pennsylvanians earn enough dollars to pay off their federal, state and local tax bills for 2015. …
Media
Read More: Pennsylvanians Are Working Longer for the GovernmentHealth Care
Judge Halts Stealth Unionization Scheme
A Commonwealth Court judge has issued a preliminary injunction to stop full enforcement of Gov. Tom Wolf's executive order to stealthily unionize home healthcare workers. For folks like…
Media
Read More: Judge Halts Stealth Unionization SchemeState Budget
The Unintended Consequences of Wolf’s Budget
If the proposed sales tax expansion contained in Gov. Tom Wolf’s budget proposal becomes law, Louise Bell's nursing home costs will jump by $3,000—essentially adding a 13th month to her…
Commentary
Read More: The Unintended Consequences of Wolf’s BudgetTaxes & Economy
The Worst “Subsidy” Study You’ll Never Read
The radical environmentalist group and corporate welfare lobbyist PennFuture has updated an absurd study about the “subsidies” Pennsylvania taxpayers pay for fossil fuels. While we oppose subsidies for any industry, most…
Media
Read More: The Worst “Subsidy” Study You’ll Never ReadEducation
Trapped: One Teacher Tells His Story
Frank is a high school teacher in Lackawanna County who has been frustrated with the NEA’s support of abortion for a long time: “I just don’t want to see any…
Media
Read More: Trapped: One Teacher Tells His StoryHealth Care
Five Years After Obamacare Charity Care Demand Soars
Five years later, the promises of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) ring hollow for too many Pennsylvanians. The law’s numerous mandates and regulations continue to drive up the cost of…
Media
Read More: Five Years After Obamacare Charity Care Demand Soars