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.
Restoring the Dignity of Work
The benefits of work, such as income, personal satisfaction, and a sense of purpose, are widely known. Yet, major welfare programs treat work as a burden or an inconvenience instead…
Commentary
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Progress and Setbacks in the 2017-18 Budget
Pennsylvania’s four-month budget battle is just about over, thanks to an assortment of targeted tax hikes and fee increases along with borrowing and one-time transfers. However, lawmakers and the governor…
Media
Read More: Progress and Setbacks in the 2017-18 BudgetEducation
ESA Basics: Understanding this New Lifeline
Children trapped in Pennsylvania's worst-performing schools could soon have new educational opportunities. On Wednesday, Senator John DiSanto (R-Dauphin County) introduced Senate Bill 2, establishing Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) in Pennsylvania.
Media
Read More: ESA Basics: Understanding this New LifelineHealth Care
Obamacare Creates Another Round of Premium Hikes
Governor Wolf announced exchange insurance premiums will increase by 30 percent next year thanks to President Trump and Congress. The problem is insurance rates have increased every year under…
Media
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Restoring the Dignity of Work
The benefits of work are widely known. Yet major welfare programs treat work as a burden instead of the pathway to prosperity. Restoring work in food stamps alone could improve…
Report
Read More: Restoring the Dignity of WorkHealth Care
Wolf’s Wrongheaded Veto Threat
Governor Wolf intends to veto Pennsylvania’s welfare code (HB 59) due to a reform contained within the bill—even though the reform can reduce poverty and stimulate economic growth. The modest reform instructs the…
Media
Read More: Wolf’s Wrongheaded Veto ThreatRegulation
An Inhospitable Tax Increase
Another day, another tax. The newest plan to fill a $2.2 billion budget hole includes a 5 percent increase to the hotel tax, along with a new tax on fireworks and third-party online…
Media
Read More: An Inhospitable Tax IncreaseState Budget
Four Alternatives to the Warehouse Tax
The latest tax proposal to balance the $2.2 billion budget shortfall is receiving a cool reception. The tax hike under consideration would extend the sales tax to commercial warehouses. The…
Media
Read More: Four Alternatives to the Warehouse TaxTaxes & Economy
Three Reasons a Severance Tax Is a Bad Idea
The hunt for money to satisfy Harrisburg's overspending problem is in full gear. Lawmakers and special interests want to impose an additional tax on gas extraction in the Marcellus Shale, the…
Media
Read More: Three Reasons a Severance Tax Is a Bad IdeaState Budget
“Recurring Revenues” Lead to Recurring Pain
The House’s preferred approach to close the state’s $2.2 billion deficit recently came under fire for its reliance on one-time revenue sources rather than recurring revenues, i.e., tax increases. But this…
Media
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House Budget Solution Spares Taxpayers
Tired of hearing about the state budget impasse? There could finally be light at the end of the tunnel and, for taxpayers, it’s not an oncoming train. On Wednesday, the…
Media
Read More: House Budget Solution Spares TaxpayersState Budget
House Lawmakers Vote to Protect Taxpayers
Last night, 103 House lawmakers voted for a no-tax, no-borrowing plan that will balance the state budget once fully implemented. Please take a moment to thank those lawmakers.
Media
Read More: House Lawmakers Vote to Protect TaxpayersState Budget
Ten Facts About the Shadow Budget
Four tax hikes in eight years have failed to solve Pennsylvania’s budget challenges or grow the economy. In contrast, utilizing 13% of reserve funds in the shadow budget…
Memo
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Five Facts About the Shadow Budget
Lawmakers should utilize surplus shadow budget funds before raising taxes on working families.
Memo
Read More: Five Facts About the Shadow BudgetTaxes & Economy
Severance Tax Talk is Stunting Investment in Pa.
One tax is emblematic of Pennsylvania’s failure to grow the economy with more government spending: the natural gas severance tax. Special interest groups have worked for a decade to enact a…
Media
Read More: Severance Tax Talk is Stunting Investment in Pa.Health Care
Five Medicaid Work Requirement Truths
Work leaves families better off. To ignore this fact and urge people to trust a failing Medicaid system is nothing short of a moral scandal.
Fact Sheet
Read More: Five Medicaid Work Requirement TruthsState Budget
Tax Hikes Won’t Prevent Credit Downgrades
In July, S&P placed Pennsylvania on a negative credit watch, citing budget uncertainties. The move signaled a potential credit rating downgrade for Pennsylvania, which Governor Wolf is using to push for higher taxes.
Media
Read More: Tax Hikes Won’t Prevent Credit DowngradesTaxes & Economy
More Evidence Minimum Wage Increase = Job Loss
Montgomery County, Maryland failed to increase the minimum wage from $11.50 to $15 per hour after County Executive Isiah Leggett vetoed the measure. He called for an objective study to…
Media
Read More: More Evidence Minimum Wage Increase = Job LossState Budget
More Bad Budget Ideas: Resurrecting the Home Heating Tax
With no clear path to a balanced budget, lawmakers have suggested resurrecting the long-dead natural gas receipts tax in order to pay for this year's $32 billion budget. Sound familiar?…
Media
Read More: More Bad Budget Ideas: Resurrecting the Home Heating TaxHealth Care
Obamacare Continues to Destabilize Health Insurance
Obamacare repeal efforts have included transformative Medicaid reform, but retained many of the regulations responsible for collapsing individual markets. On Friday, the Pennsylvania Insurance Department released shocking individual insurance rate requests…
Media
Read More: Obamacare Continues to Destabilize Health InsuranceRegulation
Wolf Targets Job Creators for Tax Hikes
At the top of Governor Wolf’s revenue wish list sits an even higher severance tax on natural gas. Yet, this tax would fail to balance the budget and cause further economic stagnation by suppressing existing revenue streams…
Media
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