(Gov. Elect) Schwarzenegger Picks Finance Director

[tsipple]

By TOM CHORNEAU, Associated Press Writer

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - 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.

Link to Full Story

[Noordam]

1. Ca is in for a fun time

Pension raiding, slashing of services and the normal repug tax cuts for the rich.... This Florida boy is glad she is gone.

[rfranklin]

2. Does this woman even have a high school diploma?

I seem to recollect that she is spectacularly unqualified by anything other than her fanatical right wing mindset.

[Pompitous_Of_Love]

5. Oh, come on people!

She's just gonna identify all the waste, fraud and abuse in state government, then make her head spin 360 degrees as she projectile-vomits pea soup.

[cally]

3. Oh brilliant move

Appoint a budget director with NO experience in California. Our budget, and the education budget most of all, is incredibly complex. She's going to be snowed and never know what happened. :eyes:

Can anyone explain how Arnold can apppoint an Education Secretary? I thought that was an elected official and a non-partisan position.

[LibDemAlways]

4. Secretary of Education

is an appointed position to the governor's cabinet - basically an advisory position with no power.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction is elected.

[LibDemAlways]

6. You'd think the repukes wouldn't want to make

the influence of the chimp and his brother this obvious - especially after pretending that the WH had nothing to do with the recall. I guess at this point they don't give a damn.

Can't wait to see her go head to head with the Dems in the Cal. Assembly and Senate. She won't know what hit her.

[shanti]

7. ohhh shit

this is not good. i know several folks with ca social services and i'm afraid for them now!

[lostnfound]

8. Rick Reardon was at the Enron Ken Lay/Schwarzenegger meeting

according to the memos linked on the Greg Palast site.