Dec. 16, 2021 Download
House Appropriations Committee Communications Director Neal Lesher sits down with Rep. Paul Schemel to discuss Zuckerbucks, Voter ID, Overreach by the Governor, and Congressional redistricting.
Apr. 30, 2020 Download
Rep. Paul Schemel (R-Franklin) speaks about Covid-19 and the sacrifices we all must make as we begin our recovery.
Jun. 25, 2019 Download
House lawmakers have voted to support a 2019-20 General Fund budget that continues a multi-year effort to hold the line on taxes, fees and spending. Total state spending would be set at $33.997 billion, a 1.8% increase over the current fiscal year, which is in line with the rate of inflation. The plan provides for a record level of spending on education and includes a deposit of more than $250 million into the Rainy-Day Fund, the state’s primary “savings account.” Schemel outlines the reasons he could not vote for the Budget Bill.
Mar. 20, 2019 Download
Lawmakers and Down syndrome advocates rallied in Harrisburg on Wednesday in support of legislation that would protect unborn children from being aborted because they have been diagnosed with Down syndrome. Under current Pennsylvania law, an abortion can be performed prior to 24 weeks gestational age for any reason if a doctor deems it is necessary, except if the woman’s sole reason is to select the sex of the child. This legislation would expand the exception to prohibit aborting the child solely due to a prenatal diagnosis that the unborn baby has Down syndrome. House Bill 321 is similar to legislation approved in a previous session of the House. Rep. Paul Schemel (R-Franklin) attended a capitol press conference in support of the bill.
Sep. 17, 2018 Download
At a press conference held on Monday at the State Capitol, Rep. Paul Schemel (R-Franklin) unveiled a proposal to provide an alternative to civil lawsuits when addressing child sex abuse cases. Schemel’s proposal would create a “Truth and Restoration Commission” that would receive testimony from victims and the institutions who may have harbored those responsible for the abuse. Victims would be financially compensated by the commission from a pool of funds supported by those institutions.
Mar. 12, 2018 Download
Eliminating abortion procedures that are performed specifically to prevent the birth of Down syndrome children was the topic of a rally held Monday in the state capitol. House Speaker Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) and Rep. Judy Ward (R-Blair) were joined by other lawmakers in support of their bill, which would amend the Pennsylvania Abortion Control Act to prevent the abortion of any child solely due to a diagnosis of possible Down syndrome. Rep. Paul Schemel (R-Franklin) commented on the proposed legislation.
Sep. 05, 2017 Download
In an effort to protect Pennsylvanians from widespread tax increases proposed as a method to close the state’s budget deficit, a group of House Republican Lawmakers unveiled a proposal to bring the Commonwealth’s spending plan into balance without dipping into the checkbooks of taxpayers. The “Taxpayer’s Budget” would utilize money currently sitting idle in over 200 state-held accounts and redirect it to close budgetary shortfalls.
May. 09, 2017 Download
Legislation designed to change the way the state allocates money for family planning has been unveiled in Harrisburg. At a press conference held on Tuesday at the State Capitol, Rep. Paul Schemel (R-Franklin) announced that he is co-sponsoring legislation that would prioritize public funding for women’s health. Schemel said his bill would allow healthcare providers which at one time only provided diagnostic services to treat conditions as well.
Jan. 25, 2017 Download
Lawmakers joined with pension reform advocates Tuesday in the state capitol to participate in a reset of Pennsylvania’s Pension Debt Clock and call for a real solution to the state’s public pension crisis. The clock was unveiled last year to bring attention to the unfunded liability of Pennsylvania’s two public pension systems. The pension debt balance is now over $70 billion, an amount that has grown over the past year by nearly $30 million a day. At the event Rep. Paul Schemel (R-Franklin) called for swift legislative action to help the Commonwealth meet its obligations to the financially troubled retirement plans before the debt burden becomes unsurmountable.
Sep. 29, 2016 Download
On Wednesday, Gov. Tom Wolf spoke before a joint session of the General Assembly about Pennsylvania’s ongoing opioid and heroin abuse crisis, calling for the legislature to address access and abuse of the drugs, from prescription to disposal.