Ike Skelton

Isaac Newton Skelton IV was a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives, representing the Fourth Congressional District of Missouri from 1977 to 2011. He was the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee

Iraq War
Skelton voted for the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 that started the Iraq War.

Non-binding anti-"surge" resolution
In early February, as Armed Services Committee Chair, Skelton and Foreign Affairs Committee Chair, Tom Lantos (D-Calif.) were charged with crafting a non-binding resolution opposing the President's troop "surge" in Iraq for passage in the House. House Majority leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said the measure would contain language expressing “disagreement” or “reservation” with President Bush's plan for a troop surge.

On February 12, 2007, a copy of the resolution, officially sponsored by Skelton, became public. It stated:

"' (1) Congress and the American people will continue to support and protect the members of the United States Armed Forces who are serving or who have served bravely and honorably in Iraq; and (2) Congress disapproves of the decision of President George W. Bush announced on January 10, 2007, to deploy more than 20,000 additional United States combat troops to Iraq.'"

In March 2007, after House Democrats unveiled their plans to bring about a withdrawal of U.S. forces in Iraq through the FY2007 supplemental spending bill, Rep. Skelton responded to GOP criticisms, defending the bill, stating that “this is not the war on terror. This is an Iraqi war, which is separate and distinct from the war on terror, and people ought to understand that…The only solution is for the Iraqis to take responsibility for their own security.”

Responsible Redeployment from Iraq Act
Skelton introduced the Responsible Redeployment from Iraq Act (H.R. 2956) on July 10, 2007. The bill would require that the U.S. begin redeploying troops from Iraq within 120 days of the bill's passage. It would also require that the U.S. have a "limited presence" in Iraq by April 1, 2008. President Bush would need to submit a report to Congress outlining the specific goals of the remaining troops in Iraq, along with timetables for their completion.

On July 12, 2007 the House passed the bill in a vote of 223-201.

Environmental record
For more information on environmental legislation, see the Energy and Environment Policy Portal

Background
Skelton was born December 20, 1931 in Lexington, Missouri. He graduated from Lexington High School in 1949. Skelton received an A.A. from Wentworth Military and Junior College in 1951. He received an A.B. from the University of Missouri, Columbia in 1953 and became a brother of Sigma Chi and Alpha Phi Omega while there. He attended the University of Edinburgh, Scotland in 1953. He received an LL.B. from University of Missouri - Columbia in 1956. He became a lawyer, working in private practice in Lafayette County, Mo. He was a prosecuting attorney from 1957 until 1960, a special assistant attorney general, and Missouri state attorney general from 1961 until 1963.

Congressional Career
Skelton was a member of the from 1971 until 1977, when he became a congressman.

His wife of 44 years, Susan Anding Skelton, passed away on August 23, 2005. Later That same year, on November 26, Skelton was injured when a van carrying him and fellow Congressmen Tim Murphy and Jim Marshall overturned near while on an official visit to Iraq. Skelton and Murphy were airlifted to a US Military hospital in Germany after complaining of neck pain.

2006 elections
In 2006, the Republicans nominated James A. Noland Jr. to face Skelton in his November 2006 bid for reelection. (See U.S. congressional elections in 2006) Skelton retained his seat.

Money in politics
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Committees in the 110th Congress (2007-2008)

 * House Committee on Armed Services - Chairman

Committee assignments in the 109th Congress (2005-2006)

 * House Committee on Armed Services - Ranking Minority Member
 * Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces

Coalitions and Caucuses

 * Airpower Caucus
 * Congressional Rural Caucus
 * Congressional Travel and Tourism Caucus
 * Democratic Homeland Security Task Force
 * Co-Chair, National Security Caucus
 * Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee

Boards and other Affiliations

 * Academy of Missouri Squires
 * Boy Scouts of America
 * Distinguished Eagle Scout, Eagle Scout
 * Elder, First Christian Church, Lexington
 * Elks
 * Vice Chairman, Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation Board
 * Co-Chair, Impact Aid Coalition
 * Lions
 * Masonic Bodies
 * Guardian of Small Business, National Foundation of Independent Business
 * National Guard and Reserve Components Congressional Members Organization
 * Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society
 * Sachem in Mic-O-Say

S.E.A
Science policy tracking by Michelle Brook, SEA (International Science Policy) Intern

Energy
House bill creates jobs, adds veteran benefits, cuts taxes, Skelton says http://www.pulaskicountydaily.com/news.php?viewStory=1936 28th May 2010

Congressman Ike Skelton voted in favour of H.R. 4213, stating he “supported H.R. 4213 because it would do great things for farmers, small business, and senior citizens throughout Missouri”. Amongst other things, the legislation would extend tax breaks for biodiesel production and prevent a 21% cut to Medicare reimbursements.

Skelton urges reinstatement of biodiesel tax credit http://www.marshallnews.com/story/1644178.html 21st June 2010

Ike Skelton called for the US senate to pass H.R 4213, the American Workers, State, and Business Relief Act of 2010, which (amongst other items) extends the biodiesel tax credit through to 31st Dec 2010. The Bill passed the House on Dec 9th 2009 and was finally passed by the Senate in March after several revision. Since then the bill has been bounced back and forth between the House and the Senate as the additions have been debated. Passage of the bill is important the the biodiesel industry as the tax cuts allow the industry to compete with oil companies.

Environment
Missouri Congressman Ike Skelton - Nature &amp; Health http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORNSRhodhi4 9th Sept 2008

Short video in which Ike Skelton discuss his views on the importance of nature and its health benefits.

Skelton seeks distance on cap and trade http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0310/33702.html 1st March 2010

Skelton defends his support for the Cap and Trade bill, claiming “The reason I voted for it was to strip the EPA from controlling greenhouse gases”.

Skelton Weekly Column: A More Responsible Approach to Energy Legislation http://www.mpnblog.com/2010/02/skelton-weekly-column-more-responsible.html 5th Feb 2010

A short article in the Missouri Political News in which Ike Skelton explains his reasoning for introducing H.R. 4572, a bill that would prohibt the Environmental Protection Agency from regulating greenouse gas emissions under the authority of the Clean Air Act. He says “urgent Congressional action is needed to assert leadership and make clear that EPA does not have authority to regulate these sorts of gases.”

Health
A Message from Representative Chris Kelly Volume 5 http://www.chriskelly24.com/newsletter_sept_2009.htm Sept 2009

A letter stating Congressman Ike Skeltons views on health care in the United States, stating that upon hearing “rumours that legislation moving through the House of Representatives would deny elderly or disabled persons health care based on decisions by so-called “death panels” and that the proposal would allow for federal funding of abortion. After learning of these allegations, I did my homework and discovered that they are not true. As a pro-life Congressman and an elder in the First Christian Church, I would never consider supporting legislation that contains those types of provisions”.

Skelton Speaks In Support of Protecting TRICARE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NwOzJuw4dA 20th March 2010

Video in which Ike Skelton speaks on the House floor regarding the TRICARE Affirmation Act (H.R. 4887), a bill that explicitly states that the health coverage provided by the Department of Defense is treated as minimal essential coverage. He states “that I oppose the Health Care Reform Bill as it exists currently” but wanted to “ensure that the Health Care of our brace service men miitary retirees and all of their family members are protected if the Bill does indeed pass”. In explaining H.R. 4887, a bill Skelton sponsored, he goes on to say that “H.R 4887 explicitly states.. it states in law that these health plans meet the minimum requirements for individual health insurance”.

Press Releases: National Council Calls On Congress To Support Behavioral Health IT Act http://www.thenationalcouncil.org/cs/press_releases/national_council_calls_on_congress_to_support_behavioral_health_it_act 29th June 2010

Ike Skelton co-sponsored the Health Information Technology for Behavioural Health Services Act 2010 (H.R. 5040), a bill which aims to help mental health providers access federal electronic health records grants and incentives which at present they are excluded from. By making mental health providers part of the national Health IT system and allowing access to grants and incentives this Bill would allow the opportunity to purchase EHRs, train staff and improove information sharing between mental health and other healthcare providers, enabling shared secure documents to be exchanged and preventing dangerous drug interactions.

Abortion, Other Issues Likely To Delay Action on Defense Bill in Senate http://www.nationalpartnership.org/site/News2?abbr=daily2_&amp;page=NewsArticle&amp;id=25171 12th July 2010

Ike Skelton is opposed to the Burris amendment to S 3454 which would allow female military personal to obtain abortions at military hospitals using private funds.

Resources

 * Official website
 * Open Secrets - 2006 congressional races database

Local blogs and discussion sites

 * Chatter

Articles

 * Walter Pincus, "Democrats Who Opposed War Move Into Key Positions. New Committee Chairmen Had Warned of Postwar Disorder," Washington Post, December 4, 2006.