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
Obamacare: Exchange Sign-ups Dwarfed by Cancellations
Yesterday, the federal government revealed that shockingly low numbers of Americans are purchasing health insurance on the dysfunctional Obamacare exchange. In Pennsylvania, it’s clear the law is doing more…
Media
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A Sign of Things to Come?
Cancelled health care plans, an unusable exchange website—do we still trust the federal government to deliver on its health care promises? In what could be a sign of what’s to…
Media
Read More: A Sign of Things to Come?Health Care
ObamaCare: Sub-Standard is the New Standard
“Junk policies,” “sub-standard plans,” “policies not worth keeping” and “bad apple insurance companies” are just a few of the terms used by the President and advocates of the ACA to…
Media
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“Free” Medicaid Money Equals More Debt
In trying to persuade states to expand Medicaid, Obamacare advocates are using enough scare tactics to fill a haunted house. From threatening to discontinue Gross Receipt taxes to…
Media
Read More: “Free” Medicaid Money Equals More DebtPublic Union Democracy
Unions Fight to Block $40 Million in Taxpayer Savings
Pennsylvania legislative leaders continue discussions over increasing transportation funding. In return for higher spending, some negotiators are seeking modest, common sense reforms to the prevailing wage law. These reforms would…
Media
Read More: Unions Fight to Block $40 Million in Taxpayer SavingsHealth Care
Obamacare Glitches or Meaningful Refom
The federal Obamacare exchanges opened for business more than a week ago, yet users have been unable to log in (much less get affordable insurance) and hit with…
Media
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Many Pennsylvanians to See Insurance Premiums Skyrocket
Obamacare’s health insurance exchanges are off to a rough start this week. Millions were welcomed with error screens as they attempted to figure out if their health care costs would rise. Fox…
Media
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Obamacare Victims Mount
By now we’ve all heard the stories of businesses laying off employees or cutting benefits to avoid the huge penalties and fines that will be levied under Obamacare in 2014…
Media
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Young and Old Will Face Premium Spikes Next Year
With only six days to go before the Obamacare health exchanges are scheduled to open, the federal government finally released some price data for the federal exchanges. Even though…
Media
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Healthy PA Can’t Cure Obamacare Disease
Gov. Corbett today unveiled a “Healthy PA” plan, calling for reforms to Medicaid while also accepting federal “Medicaid expansion” funds to buy insurance for 500,000 or more individuals on the…
Media
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Losing the War on Poverty
Bad welfare policy is robbing Pennsylvanians of a better life. Last month, the Cato Institute’s Welfare vs. Work Tradeoff study revealed Pennsylvanians can make more money collecting welfare than…
Media
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Mailbag: Burdens of Obamacare
Below are few of the most common questions I’ve received in response to my Philadelphia Inquirer op-ed on the failure of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to help low-income…
Media
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Burdens of Obamacare – Commentary
Say you’re working your way through college, supplementing student loans with a part-time job managing inventory at Wegmans. You make a decent hourly wage, but your health insurance benefits are…
Commentary
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Want to Help the Poor? Don’t Expand Medicaid
Yesterday, we talked about why Michigan’s plan to expand Medicaid was a bad deal for taxpayers. But expansion is a bad deal for patients too. Advocates of expansion make…
Media
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Michigan’s Medicaid Mistake
Michigan’s decision to expand Medicaid leaves Pennsylvania and four other states to decide if putting more individuals into a government program is the best way to offer “affordable health…
Media
Read More: Michigan’s Medicaid MistakePublic Union Democracy
One Marshamallow Now or Taxpayer Relief Later?
What do preschoolers with marshmallows and Pennsylvania’s pension crisis have in common? Both demonstrate a failure to delay gratification. Dr. Joseph Horton at Grove City College compares Pennsylvania’s pension…
Media
Read More: One Marshamallow Now or Taxpayer Relief Later?Health Care
Free Market Benefits, Big Government Burdens Obvious in Obama, Sebelius Visits
President Obama and one of his cabinet members are making separate trips to Pennsylvania this week. Their reasons for visiting couldn’t be more different. Today, the President will speak on…
Media
Read More: Free Market Benefits, Big Government Burdens Obvious in Obama, Sebelius VisitsHealth Care
Obamcare’s Premium Shock
Young adults who purchase their health insurance are in for rude awakening under the Affordable Care Act. The ironically-named law will force premiums to spike in order to pad insurance companies’ pockets. Is this what…
Media
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The Immorality of Medicaid Expansion
Recently, I noted there is nothing moral about throwing more people into a broken Medicaid program without reform. Proponents of the expansion have twisted that statement to claim expansion opponents think no…
Media
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Obamacare Failure: No More Affordable Care
Dan Lopez is a healthy 24 year old who rarely gets sick, and doesn’t see any reason to spend thousands of dollars each year on something he doesn’t use.
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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…
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