Elizabeth Stelle
Vice President of Policy
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.
Health Care
Obamacare Failure: Goodbye Jobs
Last week, the Obama administration tried to sneak through an Affordable Care Act (ACA) bombshell—the delay of the employer mandate. What does this mean? Basically, it acknowledges that as…
Media
Read More: Obamacare Failure: Goodbye JobsHealth Care
Lawmakers Stand up for Taxpayers, Reject Medicaid Expansion
Yesterday, 108 House Representatives voted to protect taxpayers from an expansion of the broken and unaffordable Medicaid program. You can thank them here. Medicaid expansion is an optional part of…
Media
Read More: Lawmakers Stand up for Taxpayers, Reject Medicaid ExpansionHealth Care
Medicaid Expansion is Risky Business
Both Republicans and Democrats have recently engaged in some risky business by pushing for the Medicaid expansion. They’ve been quick to assure state taxpayers they won’t be left with an enormous…
Media
Read More: Medicaid Expansion is Risky BusinessHealth Care
Medicaid Expansion Fails Poor, Taxpayers
Medicaid is a failed program that shouldn’t be expanded without reform. That was the message of yesterday’s House Health Committee hearing on Medicaid expansion. In contrast to House Human Services…
Media
Read More: Medicaid Expansion Fails Poor, TaxpayersPublic Union Democracy
Budget Opens Door for Prevailing Wage Reform
Before taxpayers are asked to give more for Pennsylvania’s transportation needs, are current transportation tax dollars being spent wisely? That’s the question several lawmakers are asking, as time winds down…
Media
Read More: Budget Opens Door for Prevailing Wage ReformTaxes & Economy
Pa’s Economy Improves, But Far from the Best
Things are looking somewhat up for Pennsylvania’s economy, according to the annual Rich States, Poor States published by ALEC. The 2013 edition ranks Pennsylvania 34th in economic outlook, up…
Media
Read More: Pa’s Economy Improves, But Far from the BestHealth Care
More Reasons to Pass on Medicaid Expansion
Elected officials are standing strong in their opposition to the Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act, despite a number of “independent studies” touting the benefits of “…
Media
Read More: More Reasons to Pass on Medicaid ExpansionEducation
Cyber School Funding in Pennsylvania
Cyber schools currently spend significantly less per student than school districts and only represent about 1% of spending on public education. Discrepancies in cyber school funding are the result of…
Memo
Read More: Cyber School Funding in PennsylvaniaRegulation
Liquor Monopoly: Turning Citizens into Criminals
Last weekend’s Memorial Day celebration got off to a rocky start for three Pennsylvanians who were issued citations by state police. Their crime? Looking for greater selection and lower…
Media
Read More: Liquor Monopoly: Turning Citizens into CriminalsRegulation
Why Privatizing Liquor Wholesale Matters to You
As liquor privatization discussions are occurring in the Senate, some have suggested maintaining the PLCB’s wholesale monopoly while simply turning state retail stores over to private sellers. After all, Pennsylvania…
Media
Read More: Why Privatizing Liquor Wholesale Matters to YouHealth Care
Four Reasons to Avoid Medicaid Expansion
Medicaid expansion is bad news for all Pennsylvanians. Here are four reasons why: 1. Expansion undermines the quality of health care. Medicaid patients suffer from limited access to care. A…
Media
Read More: Four Reasons to Avoid Medicaid ExpansionHealth Care
Corbett’s Wise Medicaid Stance
While advocates of expanding the welfare state are using new studies to push Gov. Tom Corbett to expand Medicaid, his position of resisting the “free money” argument is wise given…
Media
Read More: Corbett’s Wise Medicaid StanceTaxes & Economy
Name Change Won’t Fix Welfare
Pennsylvania’s welfare system is broken, and significant reforms are needed to help lift individuals out of poverty. Changing the name of the Department of Public Welfare to the Department of…
Media
Read More: Name Change Won’t Fix WelfareHealth Care
Medicaid Expansion Deals Don’t Deliver
Time is ticking for President Obama to get more buy-in on a pivotal part of Obamacare—Medicaid expansion. States are under immense pressure to accept an influx of federal funds in…
Media
Read More: Medicaid Expansion Deals Don’t DeliverHealth Care
Note to Lawmakers: The Power Is Yours!
One of my favorite cartoon’s growing up was Captain Planet. The cartoon’s catchy theme song ended with an emphatic, “The power is yours!” It’s a message all of our state lawmakers…
Media
Read More: Note to Lawmakers: The Power Is Yours!Health Care
Sequester-Sized Savings
We’ve already busted the myth that federal money for the expansion of Medicaid is somehow “free.” As Nathan Benefield explains, government only distributes what if first taxes out of…
Media
Read More: Sequester-Sized SavingsTaxes & Economy
Welfare Traps Good People in Broken System
CBS 21’s Chris Papst presents a chilling story showing how easy it is for Pennsylvania families to get trapped in the welfare system. Investigators discovered a single mother of two making $20,000 in Pennsylvania can…
Media
Read More: Welfare Traps Good People in Broken SystemHealth Care
Medicaid Expansion: The Price was Wrong
Governor Corbett made the right call yesterday when he decided to recommend against expanding Medicaid in Pennsylvania. Here is my letter to the editor to the Philadelphia Inquirer explaining…
Media
Read More: Medicaid Expansion: The Price was WrongHealth Care
Lawmakers: Medicaid Expansion Not the Answer
Rep. Gordon Denlinger and 37 House members sent a letter to Governor Corbett, urging the governor not to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act (also known as Obamacare).
Media
Read More: Lawmakers: Medicaid Expansion Not the AnswerHealth Care
Federal Funds Create Perverse Incentives
There’s no such thing as a free lunch, just like there’s no such thing as free money from the federal government. But you wouldn’t know that by reading a recent…
Media
Read More: Federal Funds Create Perverse IncentivesPublic Union Democracy
Lottery Agreement Better Than Union Guesstimate
AFSCME’s counter proposal to the Pennsylvania Lottery private management agreement (PMA) provides no guaranteed revenue for senior services, no new jobs and no protections for taxpayers if profits fall…
Media
Read More: Lottery Agreement Better Than Union Guesstimate