Elizabeth Stelle
Director of Policy Analysis
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
Anti-Drilling Groups Pressure Penn State
Opponents of natural gas drilling are attacking the integrity of a Penn State study on the economic effects the Marcellus Shale development, which was funded by the industry. Complaints center…
Media
Read More: Anti-Drilling Groups Pressure Penn StateState Budget
Voters Blame Politicians’ Overspending for Budget Woes
Reason highlights a new Rasmussen Poll on state budget crises. A whopping 75% of voters blame current budget crises on politicians’ unwillingness to cut spending. Only 13% think…
Media
Read More: Voters Blame Politicians’ Overspending for Budget WoesGovernment Accountability
Gubernatorial Candidates Criticize RCAP
In a somewhat welcome surprise, both candidates for governor (Onorato and Corbett) criticized Rendell’s RCAP projects in the budget amounting to some $300 million dollars. The political legacy projects are the…
Media
Read More: Gubernatorial Candidates Criticize RCAPTaxes & Economy
New EPA Rules Will Increase Electricity Costs
Only a few weeks after the failure of the Murkowski resolution to block the EPA’s power grab, the agency is seeking approval of a new regulation that could significantly increase…
Media
Read More: New EPA Rules Will Increase Electricity CostsTaxes & Economy
Tioga Cattle Quaratine Shows DEP Inspections Working
The Department of Agriculture quarantined 28 cows on a farm in Tioga county near a natural gas well in early May. Department officials report the cows are suspected of…
Media
Read More: Tioga Cattle Quaratine Shows DEP Inspections WorkingTaxes & Economy
EPA Seeks Comments on Gas Fracking in Pittsburgh
On July 22nd, the EPA will hold a 6:00pm public meeting in Canonsburg to gather input for a upcoming study on hydraulic fracturing. The EPA’s 2004 study on the drilling techinque concluded…
Media
Read More: EPA Seeks Comments on Gas Fracking in PittsburghState Budget
PA Relies on Federal Bailout of Unemployment Fund
A tsunami of debt is scheduled to hit the state in the next two years. One aspect, the pension bomb, has been well publicized, but the $3 billion in…
Media
Read More: PA Relies on Federal Bailout of Unemployment FundGovernment Accountability
Can We Get Some Transparency in the Budget?
The delay to include the proposed Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) is just legislators’ latest attempt to resist the transparency and accountability legislation Pennsylvanians deserve. According to John Micek at…
Media
Read More: Can We Get Some Transparency in the Budget?Government Accountability
Will the Budget Include an Independent Fiscal Office?
With much to jeer in this year’s budget one silver lining is the proposed Independent Fiscal Office. That is, if House Democrats don’t kill the proposal. Language to create…
Media
Read More: Will the Budget Include an Independent Fiscal Office?Education
Politics Making a Mess of Education
It appears Gov. Rendell has succeeded in getting an increase in education spending for the FY 2010-11 budget. Despite the fact that enrollment is down across the Commonwealth…
Media
Read More: Politics Making a Mess of EducationEducation
House Passes Special Ed “Reform”
Yesterday, without much press, the Pennsylvania House passed special education funding reforms that attempt to improve the effectiveness of special ed funding. Rep. Sturla’s bill would adjust the funding…
Media
Read More: House Passes Special Ed “Reform”Government Accountability
How to Discourage Accounting Gimmicks in the Budget
The Rendell administration celebrated the end of the tax amnesty program bringing in $261 million, well above projected revenues. But Capitolwire (subscription only) reminds us the Governor was originally…
Media
Read More: How to Discourage Accounting Gimmicks in the BudgetTaxes & Economy
Gasland Debunked
Tonight, HBO premiered the documentary Gasland – a film about the impacts of natural gas drilling across the United States. Director/producer and Pennsylvania native Josh Fox has been touring the…
Media
Read More: Gasland DebunkedState Budget
Severance Tax Wish List
Legislators are justifying the enactment of a natural gas severance tax by claiming the revenue will go towards environmental impacts. In reality, the environment is just one of a host…
Media
Read More: Severance Tax Wish ListTaxes & Economy
Pennsylvania’s Natural Gas Boom
The Marcellus Shale formation is believed to be the largest unconventional natural gas reservoir in America, and its exploration has been coined a modern-day gold rush. More than a mile…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Natural Gas BoomState Budget
Welfare Fraud and Abuse
Good afternoon, my name is Elizabeth Stelle, and I am a research associate with the Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives, a non-partisan educational institute based in Harrisburg. Thank you…
Testimony
Read More: Welfare Fraud and AbuseTaxes & Economy
Follies of Pittsburgh’s Beverage Tax
This week the student-run Publius Foundation think tank in Pittsburgh released their second study. Looking at the proposed Pittsburgh Beverage Tax, the brief concludes soda taxes harm the economy…
Media
Read More: Follies of Pittsburgh’s Beverage TaxTaxes & Economy
Marcellus Drillers Exceed DEP Safety Standards
At a community forum in Luzerne County Scott Perry, Director of Oil and Gas Management for the PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) explained how Marcellus natural gas drillers are…
Media
Read More: Marcellus Drillers Exceed DEP Safety StandardsRegulation
The Failure of Economic Development Incentives
With budget season upon us, politicians are scrambling for new revenue sources or programs to cut. “The Failures of Economic Development Incentives,” a 2004 report by Alan Peters and…
Media
Read More: The Failure of Economic Development IncentivesRegulation
Violations Carry a Hefty Price in the Marcellus Shale
In a recent Citizen Voice article, Scott Perry, the director of Oil and Gas Management at the DEP explains how costly environmental infractions can be for drilling companies. The…
Media
Read More: Violations Carry a Hefty Price in the Marcellus ShaleTaxes & Economy
Bad Pennsylvania Policy Spreads to DC
In the past couple of weeks, debate in Washington has ramped up over implementing national alternative energy mandates. Senator Jeff Bingaman has included the standards in his American Clean…
Media
Read More: Bad Pennsylvania Policy Spreads to DC