Elizabeth Stelle

Director of Policy Analysis

Elizabeth Stelle is the Director of Policy Analysis 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.

Regulation

State Pension Reform This Week?

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • October 24, 2016

Pension reform talks are in full swing as state lawmakers finish up their fall session. The latest pension proposal offers a side-by-side hybrid system for new employees, including new…

Media

Read More: State Pension Reform This Week?

Regulation

Pennsylvanians Want Pension Reform

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • October 20, 2016

A majority of Pennsylvanians want pension reform. In a poll conducted from October 4th to 9th, 54 percent of voters supported placing new state employees in a 401(k)-style…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvanians Want Pension Reform

Health Care

Record Premium Hikes Hit Pa. Exchange

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • October 18, 2016

Pennsylvanians shopping on the health care exchange are in for a rude awakening. Yesterday the Insurance Department announced premiums for individual plans will increase by an average of 32…

Media

Read More: Record Premium Hikes Hit Pa. Exchange

Regulation

Abysmal Investment Returns for Pension Fund, Taxpayers on the Hook

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • October 13, 2016

In the past six years, Pennsylvania taxpayers’ unfunded pension liability has more than doubled from less than $30 billion to $63 billion. While the legislative debate over reform continues, Pennsylvania…

Media

Read More: Abysmal Investment Returns for Pension Fund, Taxpayers on the Hook

Criminal Justice Reform

Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Effort Gutted

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • October 7, 2016

North Philadelphian Carol Johnson* saved $2,000 from her pension checks by storing the money in an upstairs bedroom. One day, the 87 year old's savings vanished in a matter…

Media

Read More: Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Effort Gutted

Public Union Democracy

Top Ten Recipients of Government Union Contributions

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • September 30, 2016

Election season is in full swing, but so is the fall legislative session. This time of year elected officials walk a narrow line to avoid the illegal practice of using…

Media

Read More: Top Ten Recipients of Government Union Contributions

Government Accountability

Teachers’ Union Deceives on Dues Donations

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • September 15, 2016

Last week, the Commonwealth Court ordered the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board to investigate Mary Trometter's allegation that the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) used her union dues to support Tom Wolf's run…

Media

Read More: Teachers’ Union Deceives on Dues Donations

Education

Teacher Shortages Haunt Philly Students

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • September 15, 2016

Philadelphia's teacher shortage is making headlines, and city council is demanding the district solve the problem. A classroom without a permanent teacher is certainly unfair to students, yet Philadelphia teachers…

Media

Read More: Teacher Shortages Haunt Philly Students

Regulation

The Legacy of Pension Debt: Pay More, Get Less

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • September 7, 2016

Pennsylvania's pension debt stands at $63 billion or more than $4,900 per resident. It's a big number to be sure, but what does it mean for the average Pennsylvanian? What does it…

Media

Read More: The Legacy of Pension Debt: Pay More, Get Less

Health Care

Obamacare is Failing, But States can Bring Hope

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • August 29, 2016

Obamacare is struggling for survival. Despite victories in the courts, state exchanges are in trouble, and Medicaid expansion has been more costly than expected—with no evidence of improved health outcomes.

Media

Read More: Obamacare is Failing, But States can Bring Hope

Taxes & Economy

Welfare to Work Helped Reduce Poverty

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • August 22, 2016

Twenty years ago President Clinton signed a law creating Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF), better known as sweeping welfare reform grounded in work requirements. In 1996, 531,000 adults and…

Media

Read More: Welfare to Work Helped Reduce Poverty

State Budget

More Victims of Devastating New Tax Speak Out

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • August 15, 2016

Amy Crivella was addicted to cigarettes. She tried everything—gum, patches, going cold turkey—but nothing worked. Then, she tried e-cigarettes, or vaping, and she didn’t need a cigarette for the first time…

Media

Read More: More Victims of Devastating New Tax Speak Out

State Budget

Pushback Against Devastating E-Cig Tax Continues

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • August 9, 2016

Backlash over the punitive 40 percent wholesale e-cigarette tax continues. Yesterday, CF Director of Policy Analysis Elizabeth Stelle discussed its devastating impacts with WILK-FM's L.A. Tarone. Stelle explained how this…

Media

Read More: Pushback Against Devastating E-Cig Tax Continues

State Budget

5 Reasons To Fear Bigger Tax Hikes in 2017

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • August 4, 2016

The 2016-17 budget has passed, yet it remains unbalanced, relying on borrowing money and yet-to-be-passed legislation. Many revenue estimates are overly optimistic. Without efforts to reduce spending or reform cost drivers like pensions…

Media

Read More: 5 Reasons To Fear Bigger Tax Hikes in 2017

State Budget

What’s in the Final 2016-17 Budget?

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • July 15, 2016

On June 30, the legislature passed a $31.6 billion General Fund Budget. Gov. Wolf allowed this budget to become law without his signature on July 12. On July 13,…

Media

Read More: What’s in the Final 2016-17 Budget?

State Budget

How the $650 Million Tax Increase Impacts You

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • July 14, 2016

The state budget is, for all intents and purposes, complete. While it remains unbalanced, we now know exactly which taxes are going up.  The $650 million tax hike passed by the…

Media

Read More: How the $650 Million Tax Increase Impacts You

State Budget

Lower State Spending Could Improve Bond Rating

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • July 11, 2016

Last week Moody’s warned an out-of-balance state budget could result in another credit downgrading. By not acting to balance the budget, Governor Wolf is aiding in the devaluation of the…

Media

Read More: Lower State Spending Could Improve Bond Rating

State Budget

One of these things is not like the others . . .

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • July 8, 2016

Remember this popular song from the children's show Sesame Street? It goes, “One of these things is not like the others, one of these things doesn't belong. . .”…

Media

Read More: One of these things is not like the others . . .

State Budget

Broad Heating Tax Would Hit Millions

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • July 5, 2016

Last week, lawmakers and the governor agreed to a $31.6 billion budget, a five percent increase in spending from last year and the largest one-year jump in spending since 2006.

Media

Read More: Broad Heating Tax Would Hit Millions

Education

2015 SAT Scores

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • June 29, 2016

The SAT, or Scholastic Aptitude Test, is an important indicator of public education quality in Pennsylvania. Currently, the commonwealth ranks 36th out of the 50 states and 3 US territories (Washington…

Media

Read More: 2015 SAT Scores