Campaign Update
3/1/2010 By Alan Nunnelee
Campaign Update
This week on the campaign trail has turned out to be an eventful one. It’s been a week filled with busy legislative sessions, a former presidential candidate, campaign stops, many hours of work, and somewhere in this busy week I’ve managed to get a little sleep. While my schedule is demanding we have still been able to visit folks in Clay, Grenada, Lafayette, Marshall and Lee County. This makes for some early mornings and late nights, as well as a good bit of time on the phone handling budget issues, but I’m dedicated both as a legislator and as a candidate to let people know where I stand on the issues and what I will do to help create jobs, cut spending, and keep taxes low as their Congressman.
I was excited to welcome Former Governor Mike Huckabee to Tupelo for a luncheon in support of our campaign. The governor was impressed with the people of North Mississippi and conveyed great confidence that the people of the 1st Congressional District will elect a true conservative to represent our district. I appreciate Governor Huckabee’s endorsement and confidence in Mississippians to lead the conservative movement that is sweeping our nation.
If you missed Governor Huckabee’s trip to Tupelo or didn’t hear about his endorsement of my candidacy I encourage you to read the article below from The Daily Journal that highlights some of the event.
Huckabee stumps for Nunnelee in Tupelo
by Patsy R. Brumfield/NEMS Daily Journal
TUPELO – Alan Nunnelee promises to talk about why he should be in Congress, not why someone else shouldn’t.
“I feel very strongly that I need to tell you what I’m for,” said the Tupelo state senator seeking the Republican nomination for the U.S. House 1st District seat.
Wednesday, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee was the campaign’s guest for a fundraiser luncheon, and the 2008 presidential candidate strongly endorsed Nunnelee’s candidacy.
“Alan Nunnelee is your friend,” Huckabee said to the crowd of nearly 200 in the BancorpSouth Conference Center. “This is one guy who won’t be voting for Nancy Pelosi for speaker.”
That was a jab at current U.S. Rep. Travis Childers of Booneville, a Democrat who’s defended his vote for the California congresswoman, saying it made no sense for him to support Republican John Boehner of Ohio for the job.
Huckabee, now a Fox News political commentator, said he’s confident in Nunnelee’s chances in the June primary and against Childers in November, as well as in the success of the conservative tide for change in Congress.
“I’m confident there’s an awakening in the American spirit” for more conservative choices, he said.
Huckabee praised Nunnelee’s role as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee and termed him one of Gov. Haley Barbour’s strongest allies on state budget matters.
He didn’t overlook the candidate’s pro-life history, saying, “There’s no greater champion for human life in the Mississippi Legislature than Alan Nunnelee.”
Earlier in the program, Nunnelee outlined some issues he described as his “vision” for holding office and for America.
He promised to hold face-to-face town hall meetings, to push Congress to conduct business more openly, to hold life sacred, to respect gun rights and to promote national security and economic prosperity.
“In short, to pass along a legacy of freedom for the next generation,” Nunnelee said.
I also want thank Governor Huckabee and Coach Houston Nutt for allowing me to accompanying them in Oxford at a reception hosted by r. and Mrs. Walker Swaney and the Lafayette County Republican Party. It gave me yet another opportunity to meet with voters and talk to them about my record on growing businesses, lowering taxes, and respecting the right to life. I’ve been encouraged by the response and enthusiasm of people as I talk about the solutions to problems we are facing in our state and nation.
Legislative Update
Even though our campaign schedule is taxing the budget is even more taxing. Education is a priority for this legislative body with over 60% of the state’s budget being devoted to education but we do not have the revenue to support existing funding levels and just like individuals and families throughout Mississippi we must tighten our belts and live within our means.
Some are asking that we spend all of our savings to make it through this budget year while we are looking at a $500 million budget hole for 2011 and a $1 billion budget hole for 2012. I believe that it is in the best interest of our state and education to spread the use of our savings over a four year period to help Mississippi survive the entire recession rather than one year of the recession with no plan for funding in the future.
These are tough times and we are making tough decisions but we cannot ignore the economic reality that we face.