Schwarzenegger picks finance director

AP | 11/04/03 | TOM CHORNEAU

[kattracks]

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Donna Arduin, a budget official known for cutting billions in social services in Florida under Gov. Jeb Bush, has been named California's new finance director.

Gov.-elect Arnold Schwarzenegger also announced Monday that former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan has agreed to become the state's new education secretary. The appointments are the first of more than 150 the new governor is expected to make in coming weeks.

Arduin is engaged in an audit of California's budget for Schwarzenegger — a project considered critical to creating the new governor's spending plan.

"I have a great deal of confidence in Donna's ability to bring state spending under control and find cost savings in the state budget," Schwarzenegger said in a statement.

Arduin resigned as Bush's budget director on Monday. In Florida, she was known for helping slash money for such things as eyeglasses, hearing aids and dentures for low-income residents.

"If she turns out to be a slash-and-burn sort, I'm not sure that will serve him well, but we'll see," said Senate Pro Tem John Burton, a Democrat.

Arduin was not available for comment Monday.

Riordan, a longtime friend and Schwarzenegger supporter, was known for his aggressive support of public schools during his term from 1993 until 2001.

Shortly after Schwarzenegger announced Riordan's appointment, the California Teachers Association said that one of its officials, John Hein, had withdrawn from the Schwarzenegger transition team.

A terse statement from CTA President Barbara Kerr called the secretary of education one of the most "redundant bureaucracies in state government" that should be eliminated to "free up money that could be spent on students."

Kerr did not return calls for further comment. In recent school board elections, the former mayor and the union backed rival candidates.

[Lancey Howard]

Gov.-elect Arnold Schwarzenegger also announced Monday that former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan has agreed to become the state's new education secretary

How much damage can that scumbag liberal Democrat do in that position?

Riordan, a longtime friend and Schwarzenegger supporter, was known for his aggressive support of public schools during his term from 1993 until 2001.

That sounds like Riordan is in bed with the education mafia.

Shortly after Schwarzenegger announced Riordan's appointment, the California Teachers Association said that one of its officials, John Hein, had withdrawn from the Schwarzenegger transition team.

I like the sound of that, though.

A terse statement from CTA President Barbara Kerr called the secretary of education one of the most "redundant bureaucracies in state government" that should be eliminated to "free up money that could be spent on students."

???
This statement makes no sense....

....the former mayor and the union backed rival candidates.

I like the sound of that, too.

[ambrose]

Riordan has knocked heads with the teachers union thugs out in Los Angeles...

[FairOpinion]

Arduin -- great choice!

I am sure she will do for CA what she did for Florida and other states: slash the budget mercilessly!

[John H K]

Arduin resigned as Bush's budget director on Monday. In Florida, she was known for helping slash money for such things as eyeglasses, hearing aids and dentures for low-income residents.

I guess the AP is just letting the DNC write their articles now without even editing them.

[SteveH]

I think this is the first good news from Camp Arnold since he declared his candidacy. I'm probably missing something. Anyway, here's a ray of optimism. It even seems to put Riordan in an orbit where he can actually do some good.

[goldstategop]

Or limit the damage. The Superintendent Of Instruction IS a Democrat. So what more can a RINO do?

[Salvation]

**Donna Arduin, a budget official known for cutting billions in social services**

Will Californians stand (or sit) for this??

[FairOpinion]

"I think this is the first good news from Camp Arnold since he declared his candidacy. I'm probably missing something. Anyway, here's a ray of optimism. It even seems to put Riordan in an orbit where he can actually do some good. "

==

I can't believe I am reading this from you. ;)

I am glad you decided to open up your mind and give Arnold a chance.

Some of us kept saying that Arnold will pleasantly surprise conservatives, just give him a chance. I am sure this is just one of many more positive surprises.

[FairOpinion]

More good news, though the author refuses to give credit to Arnold, where credit is due:

===
Indian Burn
http://slate.msn.com/id/2090579/

How the recall election broke the back of California's Indian tribes.

The most important result of the California recall is not the victory of Arnold Schwarzenegger. It's the defeat of the state's most aggressive special interest group: casino-rich Indian tribes.

Going into the recall election the California tribes enjoyed a degree of political power unmatched by any other interest group in the state, perhaps the country. The tribes' public image was the envy of the lobbying community.

They were seen as formidable, yet essentially benign—using their vast resources to do good works. By the end of the recall, however, the tribes' promiscuous spending on political campaigns had rightly come to be seen as special interest politics at their very worst.

[DoctorZIn]

This post has been added to the… California In Transition- Must read Threads!

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