| I took the oath of office Jan. 12, the
first day of the 2009 legislative session, to begin my first term as a
4th District state representative – one of the greatest honors, and one
of the most humbling, of my life.
Thanks to the capable assistance of my seatmate, Rep. Larry Crouse, and
that of the senior member of the 4th District legislative team, Sen. Bob
McCaslin, I was able to get to work immediately. And although the
team has a new look this year, you can be assured that there is no
change in your legislators’ long-standing tradition of commitment,
responsible leadership, and accessibility to our constituents.
The dominating issue during the scheduled
105-day session is the unprecedented revenue shortfall, which could hit
$7 billion. The challenge is daunting, but it is absolutely imperative
that we forge a responsible two-year budget that prioritizes spending
and doesn’t raise taxes.
Other policy areas on which I am focusing
include cracking down on Internet child pornography,
protecting access to health care, and providing our young people with
top-caliber educational opportunities. Transportation issues and
addressing the needs of veterans and their families also figure
prominently among my priorities.
Thank you for taking the time to visit
the Republican Caucus Web site. I encourage you to contact me with
questions or comments about the site, and the issues that we’re dealing
with this year.
Matt Shea
State Representative
4th District
(R-Mead) |