[StBernard] Gearing up for a battle

[Westley Annis]

February 23, 2007	 
 	 
Dear friends,

Gearing up for a battle

Our campaign team is very excited about the next eight months and is ready
to take on the challenge of running for Governor. But make no mistake, this
will not be an easy task.

Running a successful campaign for Governor will take millions of dollars.
Last week, fundraising totals for the gubernatorial candidates were released
and the sitting Governor has hundreds of thousands of dollars more than our
campaign. We have been working around the clock to raise the funding needed
to successfully challenge the incumbent, but the numbers released last week
show that we have more work to do.

In addition, there have been reports that a national radical left-wing group
has already committed to pouring $3 million dollars into the effort to
defeat our campaign. Our campaign team refuses to let out-of-state groups
block our efforts to build the Louisiana of our dreams, so we are doubling
our efforts to raise the necessary funds to fight back.

We are ready for the battle, but we cannot do it without your help. Will you
donate today to ensure that our campaign has the funding necessary to
respond to last-minute attack ads? We are committed to getting our message
out, and need your help to ensure that we can accomplish this goal.

Protecting consumers in Louisiana

I visited Opelousas this week to talk about the important insurance reform
bills I am pushing in Congress that will provide financial relief to
Louisianians. Louisiana residents statewide have faced significant rate
increases over the last year and a half, and it is critical that we do
something to ensure that residents of our state have access to affordable
insurance. I am committed to this effort.

To read more about the important bills I am pushing in the House of
Representatives, click here.
<http://www.dailyworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070222/NEWS01/702220
304> 

Fighting for Louisiana farmers and ranchers

Earlier this week, I had a chance to stop in and visit with local ranchers
and cattlemen at the Kinder sale barn in Allen Parish. And yesterday I had
the opportunity to meet with some farmers from Gibsland. Both days were
great opportunities to visit with Louisiana farmers and talk about the
issues that are most important to them.

In Congress, I have been an outspoken member of the Congressional Rural
Caucus, and have fought for bills that will help continue the agriculture
traditions that are so important to our state and nation. When I am in
Washington representing our state, I find that a lot of my colleagues in
Congress forget that it is the farmers and ranchers like the ones I spoke to
in Kinder and Gibsland that are the backbone of our country. I have made it
a priority to fight for our agricultural industries, and I will continue to
be an outspoken advocate of farmers and ranchers in Louisiana.

Celebrating Mardi Gras

This week, my family and I had a great time participating in Mardi Gras
events across the state, and I wanted to share a few photos with you. The
big parades were a lot of fun, but my five-year-old daughter most enjoyed
the parade at her school where all of the children decorated red wagons and
tossed beads to their classmates. All of the parades made for a chaotic
couple of weeks, but my family enjoyed all of the festivities!

Please feel free to contact my office if we can be of any assistance to you,
and have a wonderful weekend!

Sincerely,
Bobby