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.
Regulation
PA Regs Shut Doors to Economic Opportunity
Originally published in Delaware Valley Journal Gov. Josh Shapiro recognizes how government regulations come between Pennsylvanians and job opportunities. In his first week, Shapiro acted on his campaign promise…
Media Hit
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History shows Gov. Shapiro’s next move matters
Originally published in The Patriot-News The next few months are critical to Gov. Josh Shapiro’s legacy, and he knows it. The 2023–24 state budget, due June 30th, remains…
Media Hit
Read More: History shows Gov. Shapiro’s next move mattersEducation
Pennsylvania’s education system is broken: here’s how to fix it
Originally published in The Patriot-News Are Pennsylvania schools underfunded? Before COVID-19, 52 percent of Pennsylvania voters thought so. Then, after voters learned the actual price tag, this number dropped…
Media Hit
Read More: Pennsylvania’s education system is broken: here’s how to fix itWelfare
Medicaid Eligibility Matters
Originally published at RealClearPennsylvania Should a health-care program for low-income seniors, the disabled, kids, and pregnant mothers be co-opted by hundreds of thousands of healthy adults? Adults not even…
Media Hit
Read More: Medicaid Eligibility MattersWelfare
Unwinding Medicaid Continuous Enrollment
Summary On April 1, Pennsylvania returned to normal Medicaid eligibility rules and began a year-long process of redetermining eligibility for all 3.68 million beneficiaries.Medicaid spending grows faster than our state…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Unwinding Medicaid Continuous EnrollmentWelfare
Medicaid needs a better ‘normal’ in Pa.
Originally published in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review This month, Medicaid is finally returning to normal — but “normal” was never that great. Currently, an estimated 600,000 ineligible Pennsylvanians…
Media Hit
Read More: Medicaid needs a better ‘normal’ in Pa.Prosperity
What is real freedom?
Originally published at LNP Gov. Josh Shapiro likes to talk about “real freedom” — a familiar campaign promise repeated eight times in his inaugural speech and twice in his…
Media Hit
Read More: What is real freedom?Prosperity
Tackling Poverty in PA Starts With Understanding Barriers to Prosperity
Originally published at RealClearPennsylvania It’s hard to save money. “I have a daughter that goes to after-school care that I have to pay for,” one Pennsylvania mother said. “I…
Media Hit
Read More: Tackling Poverty in PA Starts With Understanding Barriers to ProsperityProsperity
Tearing Down the Barriers to Prosperity: What Pennsylvanians Say About Poverty and Prosperity
Unlike most reports on poverty, this report combines statistics, a survey of Pennsylvanians with income below 200 percent of the poverty line, and in-depth interviews to identify common barriers to…
Executive Summary
Read More: Tearing Down the Barriers to Prosperity: What Pennsylvanians Say About Poverty and ProsperityEnergy
Too much regulation raises energy prices too high
Originally published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette On average, electric bills for Pennsylvanians are up 73 percent since 2020. The increases range from 55% in east (for PECO customers) to…
Media Hit
Read More: Too much regulation raises energy prices too highFairness
Passing voter ID can help restore trust in elections
Originally published at City & State PA Our democratic system depends on trust – but Americans have become increasingly disillusioned by the political process. According to a poll conducted…
Media Hit
Read More: Passing voter ID can help restore trust in electionsGovernment Accountability
Director of Policy Analysis Elizabeth Stelle Delivers Remarks at Speaker Rozzi’s Listening Tour
Media Hit
Read More: Director of Policy Analysis Elizabeth Stelle Delivers Remarks at Speaker Rozzi’s Listening TourEducation
Speaker Rozzi’s Listening Tour Testimony
Mr. Speaker and members of the working group, thank you for allowing Commonwealth Foundation to provide brief comments on the importance of the house returning to work. My name is…
Testimony
Read More: Speaker Rozzi’s Listening Tour TestimonyHealth Care
Director of Policy Analysis Elizabeth Stelle on WFMZ November 21, 2022
Giving nurse practitioners full practice authority would help eliminate at least half of the healthcare shortage areas in Pennsylvania.
Media Hit
Read More: Director of Policy Analysis Elizabeth Stelle on WFMZ November 21, 2022Health Care
Remove barriers to increase health care access in Western Pa.
Originally published at the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Nearly three years after the onset of the covid-19 pandemic, hospitals still struggle with significant labor shortages. Health care workers are…
Media Hit
Read More: Remove barriers to increase health care access in Western Pa.Prosperity
Liberty is the only good we all truly share in common
Originally published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette On election day, we focus on our differences, but at the core of the American experience is one unifying idea: That all people…
Media Hit
Read More: Liberty is the only good we all truly share in commonProsperity
Inflation is killing small business
Originally published at the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Deeanna Hilliard closed her bakery in August. Gluten Free by D&D in Volant had survived pandemic restrictions and persistent worker shortages, but it…
Media Hit
Read More: Inflation is killing small businessCriminal Justice Reform
Keeping kids in the community improves public safety
Originally published at City & State Pennsylvania Reforming the juvenile justice system is personal for Philadelphia native Jon Kelly. “I cycled through several youth detention centers,”…
Media Hit
Read More: Keeping kids in the community improves public safetyFairness
Government unions have too much power
Originally published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette No one dominates political contributions like government unions. They spend millions on elections to buy their out-sized influence on officials and public policy. …
Media Hit
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During COVID, towns raised school taxes when they didn’t need to. They’re not likely to come down.
Originally published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Finally, a normal school year without face masks and split schedules. But one remnant of the pandemic is here to stay — higher…
Media Hit
Read More: During COVID, towns raised school taxes when they didn’t need to. They’re not likely to come down.Health Care
Medicaid’s Endless Expansion
Key Points Medicaid enrollment has surged, increasing by more than one million since 2015.[1] The program now covers more than one-quarter of all Pennsylvanians.Medicaid is the largest program…
Backgrounder
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