California Appoints New Secretary of Education

Davis, Susan; Alameda Blog; February 25, 2010; Education/State
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/inalameda/detail?entry_id=57951

Governor Schwarzenegger has appointed a new Secretary of Education after three weeks of the spot being vacant. The old Secretary, Glen Thomas, resigned and in the past the spot sometimes stayed vacant for months. Bonnie Reiss is a democrat and a long-time friend of governor Schwarzenegger. She was The governor's advisor from 2003 to 2007 and a State Board of Education member from 2004 to 2006. "I enthusiastically support the governor's priorities for education and his commitment to see that every child receives a great education that allows them to achieve their dreams." Reiss said.The U.S. department of Education awarded Reiss the William S. White Lifetime Achievement award in 2007 for her support of public education. She was sworn in on the 24th of February.
When Reiss says, "the Governor's priorities for education and his commitment to see that every child receives a great education." who is she referring to? Our governor has cut the education funding way, way too much already and is now proposing to cut even more. He is the last person that I would say has a priority in education. I am hoping that the new secretary will pull us out of this hole or else our generation will end up leading our whole country into a huge hole.
1.) What do you think the consequences of cutting the education budget so much?
2.) Do you think that Bonnie Reiss sounds like a good person to fill the vacant spot?