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.
Health Care
House Takes Step Towards Transformative Welfare Reform
Lawmakers took a significant step towards strengthening human service programs today. The House Health Committee passed HB 2138 with bipartisan support to restore the dignity of work for people…
Media
Read More: House Takes Step Towards Transformative Welfare ReformHealth Care
What’s the Goal of Welfare Reform?
Pennsylvania's welfare system focuses on how much one needs to “get by” or how many different services and programs one can qualify for. These are well-intentioned attitudes that stem from…
Media
Read More: What’s the Goal of Welfare Reform?Energy
The State of Natural Gas in Pa.
Pennsylvania’s regulatory and tax environment is stunting job growth and deterring investment. A decade after the Marcellus Shale boom, lawmakers are still debating how to tax the industry instead of…
Fact Sheet
Read More: The State of Natural Gas in Pa.Taxes & Economy
More Dependency Isn’t the Answer to PA Poverty
Department of Human Services (DHS) Secretary Teresa Miller wants more people on food stamps (or SNAP). In a hearing with the Senate Appropriations Committee, she argued that because the program…
Media
Read More: More Dependency Isn’t the Answer to PA PovertyHealth Care
Missing the Mark in Medicaid
When it comes to welfare, state government asks the wrong question. That’s the premise of Rep. Kerry Benninghoff’s views on welfare reform in the latest Brews and Views podcast.
Media
Read More: Missing the Mark in MedicaidHealth Care
Pressure Mounts to Create a Pathway to Prosperity in Medicaid
During state budget hearings this week, Pennsylvanians learned some unwelcome news about healthy adults added to Medicaid under the Obamacare expansion: less than half are working. The Department of Human Services (DHS)…
Media
Read More: Pressure Mounts to Create a Pathway to Prosperity in MedicaidHealth Care
Improving Medicaid through Work & Community Engagement
For the first time, the federal government is allowing states to require recipients to pursue work, education, or community engagement to maintain Medicaid benefits. With wide support in Pennsylvania, this…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Improving Medicaid through Work & Community EngagementTaxes & Economy
Minimum Wage Hike Short-Changes Teens
Higher minimum wages have driven a decline in teenage employment since 2000, according to the Mercatus Center. . . . higher minimum wages are associated with a lower…
Media
Read More: Minimum Wage Hike Short-Changes TeensTaxes & Economy
Disco Governor Wants Money, Money, Money
Money, money, money/Always sunny/In a rich man’s world. Sung by ABBA in 1976. A governing mantra of Tom Wolf in 2018. More tax dollars seem to be Gov. Wolf's answer…
Media
Read More: Disco Governor Wants Money, Money, MoneyState Budget
Lawmakers Call for Common Sense Spending Plan
In advance of next week's budget address by the governor, 10 House lawmakers held a press conference on Thursday to offer positive budget solutions. The Common Sense Caucus brought attention to…
Media
Read More: Lawmakers Call for Common Sense Spending PlanEducation
ESAs Empower Parents, Protect Public Schools
It's National School Choice Week and this year Pennsylvania lawmakers have an incredible opportunity to help students trapped in failing schools. SB 2 holds the lowest performing schools…
Media
Read More: ESAs Empower Parents, Protect Public SchoolsRegulation
Lifting PA’s Heavy Regulatory Burdens
Tackling one regulation at a time, House lawmakers released a regulatory overreach report aimed at responsibly lightening the commonwealth's heavy regulatory burden. It takes 18 weeks to read the Pennsylvania…
Media
Read More: Lifting PA’s Heavy Regulatory BurdensHealth Care
States Get Green Light to Propose Medicaid Work Requirements
It's official: The Trump administration has formally endorsed the policy of work requirements for healthy Medicaid recipients. For years states have sought this flexibility to help beneficiaries of Medicaid—government-run health insurance…
Media
Read More: States Get Green Light to Propose Medicaid Work RequirementsTaxes & Economy
Lawmakers Seek to Restore Dignity of Work
In the first press conference of 2018, House Republicans introduced a package of bills aimed at breaking generational poverty. Rep. Tobash urged reform given the desperate state of…
Media
Read More: Lawmakers Seek to Restore Dignity of WorkHealth Care
Obamacare Exchanges Continue To Dissapoint
Open enrollment for Obamacare exchange plans ends on December 15. It is convenient to blame the new administration and efforts to repeal the law for dwindling choices, disappointing enrollment, and…
Media
Read More: Obamacare Exchanges Continue To DissapointEducation
Impact of Education Savings Accounts Under SB 2
In Pennsylvania, tens of thousands of children are trapped in failing schools. While current programs such as tax credit scholarships and charter schools help, they cannot meet families’ demands for…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Impact of Education Savings Accounts Under SB 2Education
How to Combat Harrisburg School Violence
“I have been kicked, punched, hit, scratched. I've had a student physically restraining me in front of my other students…. And many of the personal things that I have bought for…
Media
Read More: How to Combat Harrisburg School ViolenceRegulation
Making PA Competitive Again
Lower post-recession unemployment & labor force participation rates are hopeful signs for a historically-weak economy, but without permanent policy changes, other states will continue to surpass Pennsylvania’s economic performance. At…
Media
Read More: Making PA Competitive AgainPublic Union Democracy
Ending Taxpayer-Funded Collection of Campaign Contributions
The House State Government Committee recently advanced SB 166, which restores integrity to an unfair system by stopping taxpayer-funded collection and distribution of campaign contributions for any entity. We explain…
Memo
Read More: Ending Taxpayer-Funded Collection of Campaign ContributionsEducation
Philly’s School Reform Commission Ends, Questions Abound for Residents & Taxpayers
The Philadelphia School Reform Commission has voted to dissolve itself. The 16-year experiment has been a mixed bag. The school district continues to face tough financial times with a looming…
Media
Read More: Philly’s School Reform Commission Ends, Questions Abound for Residents & Taxpayers
The 2017-18 Budget Comes to an End: Here’s What You Need to Know
Pennsylvania’s four-month budget battle has come to an end, thanks to an assortment of targeted tax hikes and fee increases along with borrowing and one-time transfers. Unfortunately, lawmakers and the…
Commentary
Read More: The 2017-18 Budget Comes to an End: Here’s What You Need to Know