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
Arkansas Latest to Demonstrate Power of Work Over Poverty
Once again, incomes are rising, tax revenue is up, and welfare enrollment is shrinking thanks to work requirements. A recent analysis from the Foundation for Government Accountability finds Arkansas’s…
Media
Read More: Arkansas Latest to Demonstrate Power of Work Over PovertyPublic Union Democracy
Worker Sues for Right to Resign from SEIU
Francisco Molina has a simple expectation of public sector unions: “They are supposed to help us, represent us, not hurt us.” After he got his dream job helping children at…
Media
Read More: Worker Sues for Right to Resign from SEIUHealth Care
Federal Food Stamp Fix Good Fit for Pa.
Jobs and money form the foundation of many a New Year’s resolution. Now, due to proposed federal SNAP (food stamp) changes, hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians could experience a brighter…
Media
Read More: Federal Food Stamp Fix Good Fit for Pa.Criminal Justice Reform
Smart on Crime Reforms in 2017-18
“If it's failed policy, we should have the courage to leave it and let it go.” This poignant quote from former Senator Stewart Greenleaf encapsulates the essence of recent…
Media
Read More: Smart on Crime Reforms in 2017-18Health Care
Affordable Care Act Struggles Continue: Sarah’s Health Care Story
Sarah is a social service worker from Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, where she and her husband also homeschool their four young children. For four years her family received insurance through Medicaid.
Media
Read More: Affordable Care Act Struggles Continue: Sarah’s Health Care StoryHealth Care
Pursuing Permanent Poverty Solutions: 2018-17 Welfare & Health Care Reforms
Today, we continue our recap of the 2017-18 legislature by looking at the largest and most poorly understood aspect of state government, welfare and health care. Human services spending amounts…
Media
Read More: Pursuing Permanent Poverty Solutions: 2018-17 Welfare & Health Care ReformsTaxes & Economy
Bureaucrats are Keeping Pennsylvanians Dependent on Food Stamps
Great things are happening in our economy, including more job opportunities and rising incomes. Yet, Pennsylvania is continuing to see near-record food stamp enrollment. The Census Bureau's newly-released American…
Media
Read More: Bureaucrats are Keeping Pennsylvanians Dependent on Food StampsHealth Care
Four Ways Pa. Lawmakers Can Reduce the Cost of Health Care
Bureaucracy just makes things worse. Case in point: Obamacare. Pennsylvanians have faced soaring health care costs and far fewer options ever since the law was passed. Thankfully, a…
Media
Read More: Four Ways Pa. Lawmakers Can Reduce the Cost of Health CareHealth Care
Welfare Program Restarts with No Proof of Poverty Alleviation & No Budget
After a six-year hiatus, Pennsylvania's General Assistance program is back in operation…without a budget. The Wolf administration's unilateral decision to resurrect a program, without identifying a funding source, is symbolic…
Media
Read More: Welfare Program Restarts with No Proof of Poverty Alleviation & No BudgetRegulation
Turnpike Toll Hikes Highlight Missed Opportunities
There are three things Pennsylvanians have learned to count on: death, taxes, and Turnpike toll hikes. On January 6th, the state toll road will increase rates by another 6…
Media
Read More: Turnpike Toll Hikes Highlight Missed OpportunitiesRegulation
Harsh Conditions Continue: Pennsylvania’s 2017-18 Business Climate
After the recent decision by Amazon not to put an HQ2 location in Pennsylvania, business owners and taxpayers all across the state are asking the same questions: What barriers…
Media
Read More: Harsh Conditions Continue: Pennsylvania’s 2017-18 Business ClimateState Budget
2017-18 State Budget & Spending Trends
Over the next month, CF will recount what happened on major issues in the 2017-18 legislative session and what policies lawmakers need to prioritize in the 2019-20 session to make…
Media
Read More: 2017-18 State Budget & Spending TrendsCriminal Justice Reform
One Policy Where Trump and Wolf Agree
President Trump and Gov. Tom Wolf agree: minimum sentencing laws are counterproductive. Last Wednesday, President Trump announced his support of the FIRST STEP Act. The bill gives federal judges more…
Media
Read More: One Policy Where Trump and Wolf AgreeRegulation
Pennsylvania’s Pension Systems
In 2017, Pennsylvania passed landmark pension reform that will kick in come January. But our $70 billion plus liability is still growing and so is the municipal pension crisis.
Memo
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Pension SystemsHealth Care
What Do Lower Exchange Premiums Mean?
For the first time in the history of the Affordable Care Act, exchange premiums are decreasing in Pennsylvania. Insurance Commissioner Altman announced an aggregate average decrease of 2.3 percent…
Media
Read More: What Do Lower Exchange Premiums Mean?Criminal Justice Reform
Three Bills to Help Vulnerable Pennsylvanians Await Signature
Last week we celebrated passage of a transformative welfare reform bill, which Governor Wolf vetoed late Friday afternoon. But it wasn't the only good policy that cleared both chambers…
Media
Read More: Three Bills to Help Vulnerable Pennsylvanians Await SignatureWelfare
Welfare Reform is On the Cusp
Major welfare reform is nearing the governor’s desk. Three bills, two in the Senate and one in House, contain significant improvements to our human service programs. SB 6 protects…
Media
Read More: Welfare Reform is On the CuspCriminal Justice Reform
Unlocking Pennsylvanians’ Potential
Pennsylvania’s poverty rate remains far too high. Employers can’t find workers with technical skills, and the commonwealth continues to lead the northeast in incarcerating our citizens. One organization is…
Media
Read More: Unlocking Pennsylvanians’ PotentialPublic Union Democracy
Top 5 Reasons to Support HB 2571
HB 2571 is a commonsense reform that benefits public sector workers and aligns Pennsylvania law with the U.S. Supreme Court's Janus v. AFSCME decision. Here are five reasons it must…
Media
Read More: Top 5 Reasons to Support HB 2571Criminal Justice Reform
Philadelphia Forced to Reform Unjust Confiscation
Four years ago we told you the story of Markela and Chris Sourovelis, Philadelphians who lost their home when their son committed a minor drug crime thanks to an…
Media
Read More: Philadelphia Forced to Reform Unjust Confiscation
Work Requirements on Tap in Washington and Harrisburg
At the end of this month, the federal farm bill expires. Its replacement—a monolithic piece of legislation—is the subject of significant controversy over strengthening food stamp work requirements for healthy…
Media
Read More: Work Requirements on Tap in Washington and Harrisburg