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.
Education
Pennsylvania schools have a hoarding problem
Originally published in The Mercury “Pennsylvania has been chronically underfunding school districts for decades,” according to school board member Jackie Huff. That is a common claim by politicians —…
Media Hit
Read More: Pennsylvania schools have a hoarding problemProsperity
MI and PA Lockdowns Show the High Price of Government Overreach
Originally published at RealClearHealth It’s official, COVID-19 is no longer a crisis. According to a recent Axios poll, only nine percent of Americans believe COVID is a serious crisis.
Media Hit
Read More: MI and PA Lockdowns Show the High Price of Government OverreachEducation
An answer for the way COVID put our children behind
Originally published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Maria Elizabeth had to make a hard choice: send her son to a failing school in Clairton or get a second job selling…
Media Hit
Read More: An answer for the way COVID put our children behindProsperity
Examining Wolf’s revisionist history
Originally printed in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette What will Pennsylvanians remember about Gov. Tom Wolf? This is his final year in office, and Mr. Wolf’s original priorities remain mostly…
Media Hit
Read More: Examining Wolf’s revisionist historyFairness
Why Pennsylvania Needs Wisconsin-Style Government Union Reform
Key Findings Government unions have enormous political power in Pennsylvania, due to a host of special legal privileges granted in state law.Government union executives use this power to trap government…
Report
Read More: Why Pennsylvania Needs Wisconsin-Style Government Union ReformGovernment Accountability
How Pa. Governments Use Tax Dollars to Pay Associations to Lobby
Prohibiting local governments and government agencies from diverting public funds to these associations would increase transparency and prevent taxpayers’ dollars from funding lobbying harmful to taxpayers.
Backgrounder
Read More: How Pa. Governments Use Tax Dollars to Pay Associations to LobbyGovernment Accountability
How Pa. Governments Use Tax Dollars to Pay Contract Lobbyists
Prohibiting local governments and government agencies from diverting public funds to these associations would increase transparency and prevent taxpayers’ dollars from funding lobbying harmful to taxpayers.
Backgrounder
Read More: How Pa. Governments Use Tax Dollars to Pay Contract Lobbyists
Op-Ed: Covid didn’t “break” parents
Few things are more sickening than the realization that something you disagree with will happen to your child and there is nothing you can do about it.
Commentary
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Excellent Education for All Act Summary
The Excellent Education for All Act (House Bill 1) is a transformative plan that ensures more Pennsylvania children have access to an excellent education.
Fact Sheet
Read More: Excellent Education for All Act SummaryEnergy
Consequences of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI)
The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) is a controversial compact designed to tax electricity producers for emitting carbon. The Wolf administration is attempting to join the initiative through regulation in…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Consequences of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI)Energy
Op-Ed: Wolf climate change plan will kill Pa. jobs
Joining RGGI will hurt our economy. States that participate in the RGGI have seen major decreases in goods manufacturing (down 8.6% from 2007 to 2019) thanks to rising energy costs.
Commentary
Read More: Op-Ed: Wolf climate change plan will kill Pa. jobsState Budget
Pennsylvania COVID-19 Relief Funds
During the pandemic, Pennsylvania directed more funding to closed schools than to health care.
Fact Sheet
Read More: Pennsylvania COVID-19 Relief FundsState Budget
Reinvigorating Pennsylvania with One-time American Rescue Plan Funds
Pennsylvania’s chronic overspending, mediocre tax structure, and high regulatory burden are limiting growth and investment. We must pass reforms in these areas to make our economy healthier and more dynamic.
Fact Sheet
Read More: Reinvigorating Pennsylvania with One-time American Rescue Plan FundsHealth Care
7 Signs Pa.’s Pandemic Recovery Is Falling Behind
Pennsylvania business closures continue to be among the worst in the nation. …
Fact Sheet
Read More: 7 Signs Pa.’s Pandemic Recovery Is Falling Behind
A Brief History of Tom Wolf’s Tax Hike Proposals
Since taking office seven years ago, Governor Wolf has proposed or supported 14 tax hikes on working families.
Fact Sheet
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Op-Ed: Support emergency powers amendment to restore transparency in state government
Other states are finding ways to improve transparency and provide clear benchmarks for reopening despite the crisis. Wolf’s insistence on secrecy calls into question his leadership and management of the…
Commentary
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Downsides of the Minimum Wage
Thank you Chairman Roae, Chairman Galloway, and members of the House Commerce Committee for inviting the Commonwealth Foundation to testify on this persistent issue. I am Elizabeth Stelle, the Director…
Testimony
Read More: Downsides of the Minimum WageState Budget
Gov. Wolf’s Budget Plan & Working Families
Chairman Causer and members of the House Majority Policy Committee, thank you for inviting the Commonwealth Foundation to testify on the impact of Governor Wolf’s budget proposal. My name is…
Testimony
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Op-Ed: The dangerous legacy of emergencies like Covid-19
Recent crises show that trading liberty for security risks a permanent loss of freedom.
Commentary
Read More: Op-Ed: The dangerous legacy of emergencies like Covid-19
Caring for Kids and Communities: The 2021 State Budget
A successful recovery is not dependent on government aid; it requires education lifelines for families, regulatory and tax relief for small businesses, and health care reforms to bolster patient access…
Backgrounder
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Pa. Governor’s Emergency Powers Out of Step with Most States
Pennsylvania’s emergency powers rules make our state sixth-worst in the nation, tied with others like New York and Delaware, according to the Maine Policy Institute’s Balance of Power Index. The…
Commentary
Read More: Pa. Governor’s Emergency Powers Out of Step with Most States