Skillman Far From Legislative Liteweight

Some Democrats would love to have you believe that the the qualifications for being “Lite Gov” would be that you have an active pulse. Why else would they continue to backhand compliment JLT’s choice of Dennie Oxley, while simultaneously saying the position doesn’t mean much or matter much to a ticket.

Obviously, these points were lost on Governor Daniels when he chose Becky Skillman to be his running mate. I have come to realize that Becky Skillman is one of our states most underrated and under-appreciated elected officials. Thankfully, that was not lost on Mitch Daniels when he chose her to be his LG. Part of the reason she may have been chosen may have been because she is from the southern part of the state, but her record in the State Senate is quite impressive. In 2004 alone, she authored or co-authored 16 bills. Every single one of them became law. The bill content is quite impressive too. These aren’t Seed Commissioner bills. Mind you she also did this in the short session of the General Assembly and with a Democrat governor.

But don’t take my word for it. Check out her record for yourself. Here is her activity in the State Senate since 1999, when online material was first made available:

(Available after the leap)

(Note, bills authored or co-authored by Skillman originate in the state senate while those that are sponsored or co-sponsored by Skillman originate in the state house.)

2004 (8 bills authored, 8 bills co-authored, 1 sponsored, 2 co-sponsored)

2003 (10 bills authored, 10 bills co-authored, 11, sponsored, 3 co-sponsored)

2002 (15 bills authored, 9 bills co-authored, 9 sponsored, 4 co-sponsored)

2001 (15 bills authored, 13, bills co-authored, 11 sponsored, 3 co-sponsored)

2000 (14 bills authored, 15 bills co-authored, 8 sponsored, 5 co-sponsored)

1999 (8 bills authored, 9 bills co-authored, 2 co-sponsored)

So between 1999 and 2004 that gives us a total of:

• 70 bills authored
• 64 bills co-authored
• 40 bills sponsored
• 19 bills co-sponsored

Compared to Becky Skillman, Oxley really lives up to the term “Lite Gov”.