STATE REPRESENTATIVE

CURT SCHRODER
PRSRT STD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
HARRISBURG, PA
155th LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT PERMIT NO. 529

February 2006

Summer 2008

Legislators Call for a ‘Citizens’

Effort to Preserve Shryock Constitutional Convention in PA
Property and Expand senators,Joined by several of my House colleagues and two prominent state
I called for a constitutional convention to bring about needed
Struble Trail a Success changes
rotunda.
in state government at an August 6 news conference in the Capitol
I was pleased to spearhead I am sponsoring House Bill 2723, which would place a question on the
the successful effort to preserve November 2009 ballot seeking voter approval for a constitutional conven-
a key piece of open space in tion. My legislation would enlist citizens of the commonwealth to become
central Chester County. The delegates to the convention who would meet over a nine-month period
effort culminated recently when and draft recommendations for changes to the state’s constitution. These
Natural Lands Trust (NLT) an- recommendations would be presented to the voters for ratification on the
nounced an agreement of sale November 2010 ballot.
had been reached to acquire The last constitutional convention convened on December 1, 1967.
28.5 acres of the Shryock prop- While the Speaker’s Reform Commission made some progress with reforms
erty. Shortly thereafter, funding in 2007, there were many items that were not addressed by the General
commitments were made by the Assembly. I think a constitutional convention, for and by the citizens of
Commonwealth of Pennsylva- Pennsylvania, cuts through the rancorous partisanship that often hinders
nia, Chester County and Upper progress in Harrisburg, and it represents our best opportunity to bring about
Uwchlan Township. needed reforms. My proposal is a true ‘citizens’ convention. No elected
The purchase of the officials or lobbyists would be eligible to run for a delegate position.
Shryock property, which is Recent scandals concerning bonuses for legislative staffers, grand jury
adjacent to Marsh Creek State investigations and charges against state officials signal a need for change in
Park, the Struble Trail and the the way business is conducted in Harrisburg. The citizens of Pennsylvania
East Branch of the Brandywine are losing faith in state government as evidenced by a recent poll by Quin-
Creek, will allow for the expan- nipiac University showing that 74 percent of Pennsylvania citizens do not
sion of the northern end of the believe the Pennsylvania Legislature has the ability to pass legislation to
Struble Trail and will connect it to Marsh Creek State Park. end corruption. Clearly there is a problem in Harrisburg and the people of
Much of the land will be incorporated into Marsh Creek State this commonwealth are losing faith in
Park, protecting it from development and allowing all to enjoy it into continued on back...
the future.
I am deeply appreciative of Department of Conservation and Reps. Brad Roae (R-Crawford),
Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary Michael DiBerardinis for his Barbara McIlvaine Smith (D-Chester),
commitment from the very beginning of this effort. The NLT put forth Schroder, RoseMarie Swanger
tremendous effort in reaching this important agreement on behalf of (R-Lebanon) and Scott Boyd (R-
the citizens of Chester County. Lancaster). Attending, but not
The combined effort of the state, Chester County and Upper Uw- pictured, are state Senators Jeffrey
Piccola (R-Dauphin/York) and Mike
chlan Township made the preservation of this property possible. Folmer (R-Lebanon/Berks).

Are You a Korean War Veteran? If so, read on...

I will be hosting a ceremony in honor of veterans of the Korean War on Friday, October 17, 2008, at the East Brandywine Fire Com-
pany, 2096 Bondsville Road in the village of Guthriesville (East Brandywine Township). If you are a veteran of the Korean War, or if you
know a veteran of the Korean War who lives in the 155th Legislative District, please contact my district office at 610-524-5595 to
register for the event. You may also register on my website at www.CurtSchroder.com. We want to recognize and honor these residents
who served our country in order to preserve our freedom and liberty. To do so, I need to hear from veterans who want to participate.
BUDGET
Precarious Economic Future Trauma Services Needed
Draws “No” Vote on Budget in Chester County
There has not been a trauma center in Chester County since
I voted against the $28.2 billion state budget because it relies on 2002 when Brandywine Hospital closed its center, but a task force
millions of dollars in one-time revenues during a period of great eco- has been formed to gather input from Chester County residents
nomic uncertainty and could result in a substantial deficit next year. on whether to restore these important services.
Some analysts predict a budget deficit as high as $1 billion next year. I believe that Chester County needs a trauma center, but it
Lower than anticipated state revenues led the Rendell administra- will be impossible to maintain a fully operational facility without
tion to raid certain funds and postpone payments to free up the $500 public support. That is why we are taking this initiative to the
million necessary to pass a “balanced” budget. That money will not citizens.
be there next year, yet this year’s spending will be built into next year’s State Rep. Carol Rubley (R-157) chairs the Chester County
budget, possibly resulting in a structural deficit. Trauma Center Task Force, comprised of state, county and local
Contributions to the state employee pension funds were also government officials, business leaders, hospital administrators
reduced to balance the budget. The administration originally said it and medical professionals. The task force is embarking on a
would increase the state’s contribution to these funds to stave off a multi-faceted public information campaign to give citizens the
future crisis. Instead, it cut $90 million in the pension fund contribu- facts they need to weigh this important decision.
tions to balance the budget. Treatment of trauma in the first hour is critical when it comes
I was one of 32 House members who voted against the budget and to saving lives or minimizing the damaging effects of trauma.
the more than $1 billion in state spending increases. My concern is that Emergency responders refer to this time as the “golden hour.”
tax increases will soon be needed at a time when the economy has In Chester County, the transport of trauma victims to trauma
slowed, gas prices have risen and investments are under performing. units in nearby counties adds an average of 15 to 20 minutes to
the trip. In fact, the average Chester County transport time from
injury to trauma center is more than 70 minutes.
Chester County is the most populated county in Pennsylva-
Legislation Requiring nia and the only county in the southeast region without a trauma
center. When Chester County EMS units are transporting trauma
Insurers to Cover Autism victims to hospitals outside of the county, they are effectively
out-of-service in the county. This puts the lives of Chester County
Treatment Passes House citizens at risk.
The Chester County Trauma Center Initiative seeks to inform
Legislation, which passed unanimously in the House, calls on the public about trauma services and what it would take to restore
insurers to provide up to $36,000 a year in coverage for analysis and these services to Chester County. To learn more, go to my Web
medically necessary treatments site at www.CurtSchroder.com and click on the link for Chester
for people with autism who are County Trauma Center initiative.
under 21. Act 62 is welcome
news for the more than 21,000
Pennsylvanians who have been
diagnosed with this disorder.
continued...Legislators
The law is expected to save the
Medicaid program as much as $13
Call for a ‘Citizens’
million in its first year. Constitutional
I had the pleasure recently to
speak at the grand opening of the
Downingtown center that houses
Convention in PA
the Preparing Adolescents for Adult the General Assembly to properly represent them. That is why
Life program (PAAL). PAAL serves it is necessary to call for sweeping changes to put government
young people with autism as they
transition from high school into the back on track and restore the public’s trust. It is time to put
adult world, filling a gap in services the reform effort in the hands of the people.
that has existed for many years.

Pennsylvania Moving Toward Energy Independence

The House passed Special Session House Bill 1, which calls for $650 million in state dollars for alternative energy projects over the
next eight years. Included in the plan is $92.5 million in funding for various consumer energy projects and $25 million for loans and
grants to help individuals and small businesses invest in energy-conserving technologies.
Funds will also be given in the form of loans and grants for alternative energy production projects that use geothermal, solar and
waste energy technologies. Other provisions include money for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to help
those struggling with home heating costs. For more information, visit www.EnergyForPA.com.
While off-shore drilling is not an issue debated in Harrisburg, the Legislature is considering other ways to reduce our reliance on
Middle East oil. Households and businesses can save money through energy conservation and the development and use of alternative
energy. To learn more, go to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Web site at: www.depweb.state.pa.us
and click on “Fueling Energy Savings.

Representative CURT SCHRODER

155th Legislative District
DISTRICT OFFICE: 315 Gordon Drive, Exton, PA 19341 Phone: (610) 524-5595
HARRISBURG OFFICE: PO Box 202155, Hbg., PA 17120-2155 Phone: (717) 783-2520
E-mail: cschrode@pahousegop.com www.curtschroder.com