Elizabeth Stelle

Vice President of Policy

Elizabeth Stelle is the Vice President of Policy 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.

Taxes & Economy

Minimum Wage, Minimum Opportunity

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • March 21, 2014

In 2007, the Philadelphia Youth Network needed to cut 1,100 jobs for inner-city teens. Why? Because they couldn’t afford to place as many teens in jobs under the higher minimum…

Media

Read More: Minimum Wage, Minimum Opportunity

Education

Time for Paycheck Protection in Pa

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • March 17, 2014

The government liquor monopoly, the pension time bomb, and Philadelphia’s public school crisis—what do they have in common? Each of these public policy disasters was supported by government unions. What’s…

Commentary

Read More: Time for Paycheck Protection in Pa

Regulation

A Risk Too Great: Bonds Alone Could Worsen Pension Crisis

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • March 14, 2014

Is your family ready to bend their budget to pay for Pennsylvania’s pension crisis? State pension costs are set to drive up the average family’s taxes by nearly $900 annually,…

Media

Read More: A Risk Too Great: Bonds Alone Could Worsen Pension Crisis

Education

The $1 Billion Lie Exposed

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • March 4, 2014

The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) took out full-page, color ads in several major state newspapers last week proclaiming Gov. Corbett “closed neighborhood schools” and laid off teachers in Philadelphia…

Media

Read More: The $1 Billion Lie Exposed

State Budget

Almost $2 Billion in Welfare Waste Weeded Out

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • March 3, 2014

Lottery winners on welfare, millionaires on food stamps and supervisors that turn a blind eye to fraud; these are the stories that drive Pennsylvanians crazy. But the…

Media

Read More: Almost $2 Billion in Welfare Waste Weeded Out

Regulation

End Special Subsidies to Lower Taxes for All

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • February 26, 2014

Taxpayers have spent millions on four different occasions to subsidize the infamous “Sony site” in Westmoreland County. In the 1970’s Volkswagen got $70 million in state aid under Gov.

Media

Read More: End Special Subsidies to Lower Taxes for All

Health Care

Liberal Group Screams “Murder” over Medicaid Expansion

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • February 14, 2014

This week, John Micek called out Keystone Progress on his Pennlive.com blog for what he termed a “disgusting” email that “has no place in our discourse.” What provoked this…

Media

Read More: Liberal Group Screams “Murder” over Medicaid Expansion

Public Union Democracy

Sen. Alloway Talks Paycheck Protection on the Lincoln Radio Journal

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • February 6, 2014

Senator Richard Alloway sat down with host David Taylor and CF‘s Matt Brouillette on a recent Lincoln Radio Journal to discuss what paycheck protection would mean for Pennsylvania. Senator Alloway explains how…

Media

Read More: Sen. Alloway Talks Paycheck Protection on the Lincoln Radio Journal

State Budget

5 Facts About the State Budget Proposal

  • Elizabeth Stelle, Nathan Benefield
  • February 6, 2014

The 2014-15 Pennsylvania State Budget proposal is more than 1000 pages, but we’ve boiled it down to five facts taxpayers you need to know 1. State Spending is at an All-Time…

Media

Read More: 5 Facts About the State Budget Proposal

Regulation

Blueprint for a Prosperous Pennsylvania

  • Elizabeth Stelle, Jessica Barnett
  • February 3, 2014

Over the past six fiscal years, the commonwealth has spent more than it has taken in.  This fiscal gap is projected to widen as expenditures are on pace to grow…

Report

Read More: Blueprint for a Prosperous Pennsylvania

Health Care

Obamacare Sticker Shock for Pittsburgh Workers

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • January 31, 2014

The reality of Obamacare hit home for the employees of Simonetta’s Collision Repair Center in McKeesport. WTAE news captured the reaction of six employees who were told their copays,…

Media

Read More: Obamacare Sticker Shock for Pittsburgh Workers

Welfare

Protection for the Poor a First Step

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • January 21, 2014

It’s too easy to steal from low-income Pennsylvanians and taxpayers according to Senators Scarnati and Argall. The lawmakers say it’s time to increase fraud penalties to make stealing over $1000…

Media

Read More: Protection for the Poor a First Step

Health Care

Five Facts about Obamacare Enrollment

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • January 14, 2014

On Monday the administration released the latest numbers on Obamacare exchange enrollments. Here are five key facts you need to know: Young Adults are Underrepresented: Young adults (age 18-34)…

Media

Read More: Five Facts about Obamacare Enrollment

Health Care

How Government Unions Support Obamacare

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • January 14, 2014

Government unions such as the NEA and SEIU lobbied for passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which will raise the cost of health care through various mandates…

Media

Read More: How Government Unions Support Obamacare

Taxes & Economy

The True Cost of Minimum Wage

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • January 9, 2014

If a higher minimum wage benefits workers, why not push it to $20 or $30 or even higher? Because experience shows minimum wage increases actually hurt the very workers they…

Commentary

Read More: The True Cost of Minimum Wage

Welfare

War on Poverty: 50 Years of Failing People

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • January 8, 2014

On January 8, 1964, Lyndon Johnson launched America’s “War on Poverty.” After 50 years, it’s clear poverty is winning. After five decades and more than $20 trillion in taxpayer…

Media

Read More: War on Poverty: 50 Years of Failing People

Public Union Democracy

Government Unions’ Lottery Misinformation Campagin

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • January 6, 2014

“Save the PA Lottery,” “Seniors pay the price,” and “Corbett’s secretive scheme” are just a few examples of how government union bosses employed scare tactics to conduct a massive misinformation…

Media

Read More: Government Unions’ Lottery Misinformation Campagin

Taxes & Economy

More Than Their Fair Share

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • December 17, 2013

A fair and sound tax policy requires that people or businesses pay for the government they use, including the cost of extracting natural gas.  Yet despite the passage of a…

Media

Read More: More Than Their Fair Share

Health Care

“Healthy PA:” What’s It All Mean?

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • December 13, 2013

Last Friday, Gov. Corbett released full details of his Healthy PA initiative, which seeks to expand government-funded health insurance under Obamacare (using Medicaid expansion funds to pay private insurance…

Media

Read More: “Healthy PA:” What’s It All Mean?

Public Union Democracy

Detroit Warning: Reform Needed to Save Pensions

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • December 4, 2013

“They are going to take away your pension!” is a common scare tactic used by Pennsylvania government union leaders to oppose pension reform (even though private school unions have…

Media

Read More: Detroit Warning: Reform Needed to Save Pensions