I'm terribly late in posting this, but better late than never, right?
Two weeks ago, I joined bloggers from Hoosier Access, Indy Conservative Hardball and Prosper GroupThink for an informal blogger dinner with LG Becky Skillman to discuss 2008, her plans for the future and the Daniels administration's agenda for their second term. I am trying to directly quote the LG as much as possible below.
Two weeks ago (four weeks ago now) Skillman filed her paperwork to run again as Lt. Gov. "It's hard to believe 4 years have passed...but it's been a time of action. I can travel to any part of this state and see signs of progress."
About jobs:
More than 60% of new jobs coming in are coming to areas with less than 25,000 in population. Since 2005, we're right at 67,000. We've had $15.6 billion in private capital investments. We're #1 in new Foreign production jobs. 14,000 of those jobs are with international companies that chose to expand or relocate their operations here.
About the re-election campaign:
She is looking forward to the next 6 months of the campaign, which she says will remain positive. "We won't attempt to divide Hoosiers. We will speak the truth."
About the recent CA Supreme Court decision over-turning CA marriage law passed by referendum.
"The Governor has said that he would vote for an amendment if he had the chance." (Note: In Indiana, the Governor doesn't sign off on an amendment like SJR7). "It's unconscionable for the will of the people to be overturned."
~ ~ Listen to the Governor's statement here. ~ ~
Some social conservatives are unhappy with Gov. Daniels. Is this fair? (BTW, VR didn't ask this one)
"I've never questioned what he would do (when it comes to marriage). (In 2004 during the search for an LG) I filled out a 17 page survey on my beliefs, and he wouldn't choose someone who didn't line up with his values and beliefs."
Will the marriage amendment be on the agenda in 2009?
"It's safe to say it's going to introduced and pursued."
Do you have a preview of what's coming in years 5-8?
"A great deal of our focus in the 2009 session will be on Education. You will recall in 2007, we introduced the measure to franchise the Hoosier Lottery, with the proceeds going to college scholarships. That passed the Senate but not the House of Reps. The top bid was 2.6 billion - we set a threshold of $1 billion."
"The legislature did not include in the last budget full funding for Full Day Kindergarten as the Gov wanted."
"We'll be looking at discipline in the classroom. We'll have 1 or 2 bills introduced...also more instruction not construction of schools."
"One top priority is the 2nd passage of the Constitutional amendment regarding the property tax reform in 2009."
"Within the next 30 days or so we'll have more of our agenda ready for announcement. The state's economic health will continue to be the #1 priority going forward. Indiana is the only state in the black in a sea of red in the Midwest."
What are the effects of the excited Democrat Party on the 2008 campaign?
"Hoosiers are accustomed to taking one race at a time. They're very independent."
"Every election cycle we say it's the most important. We just have to turn our supporters out to vote."
Skillman 2012?
"I don't know. If in politics a week is a year, 5 years from now feels like an eternity. But, I'm not intimidated by it."
Indiana Government
"It's absolutely true that we are in a new era of local government restraint."
"The size of state government has been decreased by 10% but we've increased worker pay, and it still costs less today than it did before."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
On a personal note, we've highlighted Lt. Gov. Skillman's leaderhip in the past, but I continue to be impressed with her depth of knowledge and familiarity on a wide range of issues. She is a classy lady, an effective Lieutenant Governor, and a wonderful role model for young girls seeking to be successful in life. She should also be commended for her efforts to be accessible to bloggers. We can be a tough crowd sometimes, but her willingness to provide access and submit to interviews demonstrates that she wants to involve Hoosiers of all types in her administration.
