SHAY'S KEY ISSUES:

• Public Education ~ Shay fully supports higher teacher salaries, small class sizes, high academic performance standards, emphasis on children at risk, life-skills education, special education programs, and the expansion of fine arts and athletic programs that inspire and broaden the outlook of students at all levels of education.
It is time to recognize the many accomplishments of our schools, teachers, and students and dedicate ourselves to continued progress. Shay believes our future, and the future of our children, has been short-changed by programs that continue to be under-funded, in particular the failed No Child Left Behind (NCLB). NCLB continues to financially strain our Public School system and hinders our Educators by taking vital teaching time away from our students. Shay supports changes in the per student money allocation formula used for Charter Schools vs. Public Schools

• Affordable Health Care and Prescription Drugs ~ Shay believes that health care is a right for all New Mexicans through a system of affordable health care. Shay will support an affordable Health Care and Prescription Drug Plan.
Every New Mexican should have ready access to high-quality health care. Shay is personally one of too many un-insured citizens in New Mexico, and the United States! Fortunately, she has been in good health, finding that her yearly visits and labs were amazingly less expensive under 'self pay'! (Especially in light of what medical insurance premiums would have cost!)
Those not as fortunate and with major health problems, find it necessary to pay these high premiums if they don't qualify for Medicare or Medicaid. The savings are scant, if any, after the Insurance Company's have negotiated lower costs of procedures with the Doctors, Hospitals, Labs and Pharmacies; all the while asking the patient to meet higher out-of-pocket deductibles.

• Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness ~ Shay will support needed funding increases to build a stronger, safer New Mexico. We live in a volatile world. Keeping our Communities safe, secure, and crime free is important. Our First Responders in any Emergency are Police, Fire, and Rescue. They are often forgotten until citizens personally need their help. New Mexico has some of the best trained Public Safety professionals in the U.S. and we need to maintain that quality. Shay fully supports providing our first responders with proper planning, state-of-the-art equipment, and extensive benefits, such as comprehensive health care coverage, life and liability insurance, and adequate worker's compensation. The lessons learned from Katrina makes Emergency Preparedness, including training, coordination and communication, a vital issue.

• Economic Development ~ Shay supports State-wide technology-transfer efforts that give private industry access to technology developed by the federal laboratories based in New Mexico. These partnerships create jobs and ensure a continued, important role for the laboratories. Shay recognizes the tremendous ingenuity of New Mexico's small business community and will work hard to leverage its technological expertise for Department of Defense missions

• Energy ~ Shay will support increased funding and grants to develop and implement affordable Alternative Energy Sources within the next five years. Protection of our state's natural beauty and natural resources is essential. Citizens, organizations, government and industry must all work together to conserve clean water, air and land, and the expansive vistas that define the Land of Enchantment. The state and federal government should assist and reward through tax incentives any individuals or businesses that invest in, develop or use alternative energy systems.
Shay will support additional efforts that New Mexico State Government can make toward the development of geothermal, solar, and wind energy.