Elizabeth Stelle

Vice President of Policy

Elizabeth Stelle is the Vice President of Policy at the Commonwealth Foundation.

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

Bailouts and the Press

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • May 4, 2009

History has a way of repeating itself and all these comparisons between today’s recession and the great depression are sometimes eerily similar. Economic conditions and the popularity of the internet…

Media

Read More: Bailouts and the Press

Taxes & Economy

How PA Should Use Its Stimulus Money

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • April 30, 2009

Lawmakers in Missouri announced they are foregoing pet projects in order to temporarily lower the state’s personal income tax from 6% to 5.5%. (HT NTU) Governor Rendell would be…

Media

Read More: How PA Should Use Its Stimulus Money

Taxes & Economy

Will Mandated Smart Meters Save Money?

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • April 29, 2009

Last year the legislature passed Act 128, which forces utilities to force their customers to conserve electricity. Among the provisions is a mandate to install smart meters in every…

Media

Read More: Will Mandated Smart Meters Save Money?

Taxes & Economy

Electricity: Phase-In Legislation Passes Committee

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • April 22, 2009

Yesterday, the Consumer Affairs Committee unanimously approved legislation that would phase-in higher electricity rates over a three year period. Rates for PPL residential customers are expected to increase…

Media

Read More: Electricity: Phase-In Legislation Passes Committee

Energy

Electricity Deregulation: A Successful Transition

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • April 7, 2009

Most Pennsylvania residents will soon see significant increases in their electricity bills. Many state lawmakers are concerned about the political backlash they will receive as a result. But it is…

Commentary

Read More: Electricity Deregulation: A Successful Transition

Education

Study Shows School Vouchers are Working

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • April 5, 2009

The latest research on the Milwaukee school voucher program shows significant improvements in student achievement and millions of dollars in savings for state taxpayers. Interestingly, boys seem to be…

Media

Read More: Study Shows School Vouchers are Working

Taxes & Economy

Please No More Taxes Video Contest Deadline Extended

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • April 3, 2009

The deadline for the Please No More Taxes Video Contest has been extended to June 1st! Are you tired of paying high taxes? Enter the Commonwealth Foundation’s “Please…

Media

Read More: Please No More Taxes Video Contest Deadline Extended

Regulation

Corporate Welfare Fails to Save PA Jobs

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • March 31, 2009

Amazon is closing distribution centers in three states, including one in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. Just last year the state “helped” the world’s leading on-line retailer to open a new…

Media

Read More: Corporate Welfare Fails to Save PA Jobs

Education

Higher Education: Focus on Students not Research

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • March 25, 2009

A new study from AEI bolsters our claim that higher education’s obsession with (often obscure) research lowers the quality of undergraduate education. Professor Bauerlein’s paper entitled “Professors…

Media

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Higher Education: Focus on Students not Research

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • March 25, 2009

A new study from AEI bolsters our claim that higher education’s obsession with (often obscure) research lowers the quality of undergraduate education. Professor Bauerlein’s paper entitled “Professors…

Media

Read More: Higher Education: Focus on Students not Research

Education

Rendell Tells PSU to Cut Costs

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • March 18, 2009

Yesterday, the Governor met with the Pennsylvania Tuition Coalition, a student group lobbying the state to include state-related schools, like PSU, in the Governor’s tuition relief scheme. Rendell told…

Media

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Education

Upcoming Opportunities for Students

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • March 11, 2009

The Commonwealth Foundation has a number of great opportunities for students to learn more about economics, public policy, and the importance of liberty. Please, No More Taxes! Video Contest- Win…

Media

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Education

PHEAA: More Wasteful Spending Exposed

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • March 5, 2009

On Monday the CEO of the Pennsylvania Higher Education Foundation was fired for excessive travel expenses. Michael Hershock (former head of the PHEAA) spent thousands…

Media

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Education

Time for Universities to Focus on Education

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • February 28, 2009

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports on the Pennsylvania State Board of Education’s recent suggestion to establish “no-frills” 4-year colleges. The proposal has sparked debate over what constitutes a “frill”. Francis…

Media

Read More: Time for Universities to Focus on Education

Government Accountability

Government on a Diet: Spending Tips 2009

  • Elizabeth Stelle, Nathan Benefield
  • February 12, 2009

Government on a Diet: Spending Tips 2009 identifies $5 billion in unhealthy state spending in FY 2008-09 and offers a series of recommendations to both resolve the current revenue shortfall…

Report

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Education

More Subsidies for Higher Education

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • February 2, 2009

Governor Rendell is proposing an increase of $128 million in tuition aide for students at PASSHE schools. There’s no question that skyrocketing tuition is hitting families hard, but throwing…

Media

Read More: More Subsidies for Higher Education

Taxes & Economy

Royal Bank of Scotland to Sell Electricity in PA

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • January 23, 2009

The Tribune-Review reports The Royal Bank of Scotland is awaiting permission from the PUC to sell electricity to commercial and industrial customers across Pennsylvania. The change would give Pittsburgh…

Media

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Regulation

New Pollution Regulations Will Cost You

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • December 30, 2008

Yesterday, the Pennsylvania DEP reinstated CAIR (the Clean Air Interstate Rule) after a successful appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. In July, the…

Media

Read More: New Pollution Regulations Will Cost You

Education

Scholarships for Student Conference on Liberty

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • December 29, 2008

Students For Liberty (a non-profit organization dedicated to liberty) will host their 2009 International Students For Liberty Conference from February 20-22nd at George Washington University, Washington, D.C. The…

Media

Read More: Scholarships for Student Conference on Liberty

Government Accountability

Transparency and the Bailout

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • December 23, 2008

Transparency is a popular buzzword these days, but does the rhetoric reflect reality? John Stossel investigates the lack of transparency surrounding the bailout.

Media

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Regulation

Government Knows Best: New Mandates in Philly

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • December 19, 2008

Philadelphia passed a new law (HT:Grassroots) mandating Carbon Monoxide detectors in every newly constructed home. The story reminded me of…

Media

Read More: Government Knows Best: New Mandates in Philly