Schwarzenegger Fills Key Education, Finance Posts (Teachers Unions And Democrats Voice Displeasure)

Los Angeles Times ^ | 11/04/03 | Peter Nicholas, Dan Morain And Evan Halper

[goldstategop]

The state teachers union immediately balked at the Riordan appointment, having wanted the governor-elect to abolish the position of education secretary outright. John Hein, an official with the California Teachers Assn., resigned from his seat on Schwarzenegger's transition team Monday, partly to signal the union's unhappiness over what it portrayed as a snub....

Conservatives were pleased by Schwarzenegger's choice.

Jon Coupal, president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assn. and one of many advisors to Schwarzenegger on transition issues, called Arduin "no nonsense and willing to make some tough recommendations."

As for Riordan, he comes to the job with a power base in his own right — something that could make him a more formidable player in enacting the governor's agenda, some analysts said.

"He's someone who doesn't come out of the educational establishment," said Steinberg, a Republican political consultant. " ... There's no question that Riordan is anti-bureaucratic and could be a strong-willed advocate for reducing state controls and regulations and mandates to allow for a lot more autonomy in individual districts in schools."

[goldstategop]

Donna Arduin is a conservative. But even a RINO like Dick Rear End doesn't like the way bureaucrats have run the schools. I'm not too pleased with the latter appointment but Arduin is the right choice to fulfill Arnold's pledge to tame the state budget without tax increases. He's going to come up against California's entrenched tax and spend lobby and he will need all the help he can get.

[KC_Conspirator]

When Arnold does something and its opposed by "all the right people", I think its a good thing.

[wunderkind54]

Exactly right.

So far he's pushing the right buttons and getting the right response.

Keep up the good work, Arnie!

[buffyt]

WHEN does Arny takeover? Davis is still making give-aways, isn't he? Time for Davis to GO!

[Evil Inc]

The intrenched guys didn't get the idea that the voters wanted Davis and all his cronies out. The connections that used to guarantee state cash flow have been broken.

[Ronin]

If the teacher's unions are squawking, he must be doing good. Most excellent!

[secret garden]

He's ticking off the right people so he must be doing something right.

[Made In The USA]

"He's someone who doesn't come out of the educational establishment,"

Probably the best qualification to get things done. Likely someone who understands how to MANAGE.

[ALOHA RONNIE]

"This Recall is just Sour Grapes from a bunch of Losers"..

...GRAY DAVIS within microphpone range just before he is to give his Recall Election night concession speech.

[DoctorZIn]

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[BibChr]

My very thought.

[MainFrame65]

Two questions about Riordan: How will he treat home schooling families, and how will he deal with the issues of charter schools, vouchers, and private schools?

Nothing good will happen in education until the educrats are sent packing and control is returned to local parents. The amount of money that could be saved by such changes is enormous, and the effect of that on the budget deficit is equally great.

[Robert357]

The Teachers unions (i.e. NEA, CEA, etc.) need to rethink their association as lap dogs for the Democratic party, otherwise as the democratic party goes into 3rd party status, they will find all political clout vanish.

In Washington State, it was Republicans, a few years back that helped promote teach pay over democrat refusal. What happened in the next election? The Washington Education Assoication came out supporting democrats up and down the ticket. Folks have learned their political lessons. The WEA in this state has been caught in more campaign funding violations by the state disclosure committee than just about any other organization and all have favored democrats.

Soon even rank and file teachers will see that their union is not helping them poltically.

[CanisMajor2002]

Heard on the radio today he gets sworn in Nov. 17.

[ladylib]

What's happening in Marysville? Hundreds of students have left the district during the strike:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2001782186_marysville04m.html

Guess the teachers union didn't do their membership any favors.

[BurbankKarl]

heads should roll in Marysville...the students fled because they wanted to be taught...the judge ruled the strike illegal, there should be layoffs.