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
What’s the Difference Between a Tax and a Fee?
The latest media narrative this week seems to be that Americans for Tax Reform’s Grover Norquist is controlling Pennsylvania lawmakers, by stating that a proposed “impact fee” is a…
Media
Read More: What’s the Difference Between a Tax and a Fee?Regulation
Privatizing “Yellow Pages” Government
This report surveys the scope of Yellow Pages Government in Pennsylvania, looks at examples of state and local privatization throughout the country, and outlines best practices to equip lawmakers to…
Report
Read More: Privatizing “Yellow Pages” GovernmentPublic Union Democracy
PA Legislators Consider Unemployment Compensation Reforms
By June 11th, the state must change its unemployment compensation rules to meet federal guidelines, or 45,000 Pennsylvanians will lose their unemployment benefits. Gov. Corbett has been supportive of more…
Media
Read More: PA Legislators Consider Unemployment Compensation ReformsHealth Care
Rescuing the States from Medicaid
State Medicaid spending has increased four times faster than elementary and secondary education spending and nine times faster than transportation spending over the past two decades. In Pennsylvania,…
Media
Read More: Rescuing the States from MedicaidRegulation
Privatization Could Save Harrisburg
In December, Harrisburg entered into the state’s ominous Act 47 program for distressed cities to avoid bankruptcy. Privatization seems one option to help the city deal with its debt…
Media
Read More: Privatization Could Save HarrisburgEducation
Senate Passes Furlough Bill, but Keeps “Last In First Out”
Today, the Pennsylvania Senate passed SB 612 by a 38-12 count. The bill, sponsored by Senator Folmer, would give school districts the ability to furlough teachers and other school…
Media
Read More: Senate Passes Furlough Bill, but Keeps “Last In First Out”Regulation
Should States Stop Regulating Telephones?
Land line use in the United States continues to decline as more households are going “wireless” and relying exclusively on their cell phones. About 17 percent of Pennsylvania households…
Media
Read More: Should States Stop Regulating Telephones?Government Accountability
Reining in Spending with Performance-Based Budgeting
The House State Government Committee held a hearing today on reforming the budgeting process. HB 726, sponsored by Rep. Stan Saylor, would institute performance based-budgeting. Today, most of the…
Media
Read More: Reining in Spending with Performance-Based BudgetingTaxes & Economy
Natural Gas Industry Paid Over $1 Billion in Taxes
Yesterday, the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue released detailed numbers, showing oil and gas producers paid over $1.1 billion in state taxes since 2006. This includes $234 million paid this…
Media
Read More: Natural Gas Industry Paid Over $1 Billion in TaxesRegulation
Public Pensions & Politics
Here’s a presentation on government pensions from our senior fellow Rick Dreyfuss. PA Pension Reform Presentation …
Media
Read More: Public Pensions & PoliticsTaxes & Economy
The Natural Gas Not-A-Tax
Yesterday, the Republican Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati released his much anticipated Marcellus shale Not-A-Tax “local impact fee.” The proposal would require drillers to pay a “Base Fee”…
Media
Read More: The Natural Gas Not-A-TaxTaxes & Economy
Earth Day Tribute to Fossil Fuels
Instead of planting a tree today, I’m celebrating earth day by honoring the human ingenuity that’s made this planet a better place to live. There’s no question that standards of…
Media
Read More: Earth Day Tribute to Fossil FuelsGovernment Accountability
Atlas Shrugged: Part I Movie Reviews
Friday night, three CF staffers braved sold-out theaters to watch the much anticipated Atlas Shrugged movie, a film that was big on buzz and short on funds. The movie, like the…
Media
Read More: Atlas Shrugged: Part I Movie ReviewsEducation
A Diet for Higher Education
Sunday, the Post Gazette published an article from our friends at the Center for College Affordability and Productivity. They argue there is no relationship between state appropriations and…
Media
Read More: A Diet for Higher EducationEducation
Union Think Tank Continues Assault on School Choice
The union-backed Keystone Research Center (KRC) released a so-called study of Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC). Not surprisingly, this study is an attack against tax credits for private…
Media
Read More: Union Think Tank Continues Assault on School ChoiceGovernment Accountability
PA House Passes Four Reform Bills this Week
The Pennsylvania State House has been especially productive this week, passing four pieces of key legislation that CF blogged on last week.
Media
Read More: PA House Passes Four Reform Bills this WeekTaxes & Economy
Economic Freedom Means no Subsidies for any Energy Source
The Marcellus Works proposal is a package of seven bills designed to incentivize natural gas vehicles through a combinations of tax credits and government loans. The bills include: HB…
Media
Read More: Economic Freedom Means no Subsidies for any Energy SourceEducation
More Evidence Vouchers are a Win-Win
The latest series of studies from the University of Arkansas’s Department of Education Reform on the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program (MPCP) provide more evidence that vouchers improve academic performance…
Media
Read More: More Evidence Vouchers are a Win-WinTaxes & Economy
House Republicans Introduce Welfare Reforms
Public Welfare is both the largest—at over $27 billion in total spending— and among the fastest growing programs in the Pennsylvania state budget. In…
Media
Read More: House Republicans Introduce Welfare ReformsTaxes & Economy
Who’s Creating Jobs in Pennsylvania?
It’s clear the Marcellus Shale is revitalizing rural economies across the commonwealth by increasing local revenue and paying landowners…
Media
Read More: Who’s Creating Jobs in Pennsylvania?Education
Scholars Aren’t Made from Dollars
All indications say academic performance remains inadequate, with thousands of children trapped in failing schools while waiting lists for charter schools and Educational Improvement Tax Credit scholarships grow. Proponents of…
Commentary
Read More: Scholars Aren’t Made from Dollars