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.
Health Care
Poverty Isn’t a Partisan Problem
Here’s a sobering fact: 13.1 percent of Pennsylvanians live in poverty despite billions spent every year on the social safety net. Simply throwing more money at the problem won’t make…
Media
Read More: Poverty Isn’t a Partisan ProblemEducation
SAT Scores Slip While Spending Soars
Pennsylvania education spending is at at all-time high and ranks near the top in dollars spent per student among the states. But all of that extra spending isn’t helping kids…
Media
Read More: SAT Scores Slip While Spending SoarsHealth Care
Washington isn’t Interested in Fixing Medicaid
“We have been legitimately working very hard with them and frankly, I’m very disappointed with the turn in discussions in the last week,” said Governor Corbett (paywall) on the federal…
Media
Read More: Washington isn’t Interested in Fixing MedicaidHealth Care
Protected from Obamacare
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act promised to provide more affordable and better health care for all. Unfortunately, the law has delivered just the opposite—so much so that President…
Media
Read More: Protected from ObamacareRegulation
NFIB Study Finds PA Minimum Wage Bills Kill Jobs
Thanks to a recent minimum wage increase, 61 percent of New Jersey businesses are likely to raise their prices. In addition, a Congressional Budget Office analysis found increasing…
Media
Read More: NFIB Study Finds PA Minimum Wage Bills Kill JobsTaxes & Economy
Minimum Wage, Minimum Opportunity
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 OpportunityEducation
Time for Paycheck Protection in Pa
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 PaRegulation
A Risk Too Great: Bonds Alone Could Worsen Pension Crisis
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 CrisisEducation
The $1 Billion Lie Exposed
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 ExposedState Budget
Almost $2 Billion in Welfare Waste Weeded Out
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 OutRegulation
End Special Subsidies to Lower Taxes for All
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 AllHealth Care
Liberal Group Screams “Murder” over Medicaid Expansion
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 ExpansionPublic Union Democracy
Sen. Alloway Talks Paycheck Protection on the Lincoln Radio Journal
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 JournalState Budget
5 Facts About the State Budget Proposal
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 ProposalRegulation
Blueprint for a Prosperous Pennsylvania
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 PennsylvaniaHealth Care
Obamacare Sticker Shock for Pittsburgh Workers
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 WorkersPublic Union Democracy
Government Union Bosses’ Politics Harm Union Members
Government union leaders are quick to argue that their endless lobbying, political spending and…
Media
Read More: Government Union Bosses’ Politics Harm Union MembersWelfare
Protection for the Poor a First Step
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 StepHealth Care
Five Facts about Obamacare Enrollment
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 EnrollmentHealth Care
How Government Unions Support Obamacare
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 ObamacareTaxes & Economy
The True Cost of Minimum Wage
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