Ike Skelton



Isaac Newton Skelton IV, a Democrat, is a former U.S. Representative for the 4th Congressional district of Missouri, having served 1997 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.

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 Missouri State Senate 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 Baghdad Airport 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.

2010 elections
In 2010, Skelton lost his House seat to Republican Vicky Hartzler.

Money in politics
cid=N00005105&cycle=2006

Committees

 * 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

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.