Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman was in Northwest Indiana yesterday talking about how great it is that Indiana is getting a bunch of federal stimulus money provided by the leadership of President Barack Obama and Democrats in Congress. Okay, she didn’t say that last part.
Skillman, who’s widely rumored to be considering a run for the top job in 2012, also keynoted the Porter County Lincoln Day dinner while she was in the region. She had no shortage of blame to pass around to explain why we still don’t have a state budget. The Times of Northwest Indiana reports:
Skillman said the failure of the Indiana General Assembly to agree on a two-year budget was caused by tough economic times that have reduced tax collections and confused economic forecasters who legislators lean on to provide reliable numbers to spend on state services, primarily education.
She said she blames a lack of communication in the final hours of the General Assembly between Gov. Mitch Daniels and legislative leaders.
Interesting that she’d include Daniels in that mix. It’s clear to any observer that the Guv’s first-term, arm-twisting tactics aren’t going to work now that he’s a second-term lame duck. Perhaps Skillman doesn’t mind throwing him under the bus a little bit if it means she has a better shot at running in three years.
After all, Skillman came from the Indiana Senate, so she’s seen this rodeo play out more than once. It would be understandable if she was frustrated watching Daniels hide under his desk the entire session, leaving fellow Republicans and Democratic leaders trying to avoid the ever-moving target of his veto pen.
