Rep. Paul Schemel (R-Franklin) has announced that he will not seek a sixth term in Harrisburg in 2024.
The Republican whose district covers southern Franklin County and includes Waynesboro, Greencastle, Mercersburg and Mont Alto, explained he is making this announcement early to provide those interested in running for the position adequate time to weigh their decision.
“It continues to be a great privilege to represent my community and its values and interests at the capital and, beginning in 2025, it will be time for someone new with a fresh set of eyes to carry our community’s interests forward,” said Schemel.
Schemel was elected to the state House in 2015 and then won four more uncontested elections.
He has been vocal about his desire to have Pennsylvania move to a part-time legislature.
“Pennsylvania is one of only a handful of states with a full-time legislature, with salaries for even rank-and-file lawmakers now in the six figures. The compensation, per diems and other benefits give us the dubious honor of ranking among the nation’s most expensive legislatures,” Schemel said.
Schemel has reintroduced legislation seeking to reduce legislative salaries to $25,000 a year and compress session calendars.
“My district in southern Franklin County borders the Mason-Dixon line, and many of my constituents rightly point out that the Maryland General Assembly has already accomplished its work for the entire year,” Schemel said. “What a colossal waste of both time and money.”
He is a member of the Judiciary, Health, Energy & Environmental Resources and State Government committees and serves as the Republican chair on both the subcommittee on Healthcare and subcommittee on Courts.
Schemel is a partner in DSS Law — Dick, Stein, Schemel, Wine & Frey, LLP, and has kept his license up to date while serving in the legislature.
“I’m still focused on my legislative work, but I do look forward to returning to private practice after I leave office at the end of November 2024,” he said.
3 Responses
Love it when rich men tell us how much our wages or salary should be. What a jerk.
This guy wins four terms and he acts like Father Time? Give me a break. He raises no points and appears quite pompous!
Keep the legislators full-time but reduce the size of the House by 1/3.