A few DC insiders have written me saying that Sec. Spellings conspicuously left one name off the list when she basically hung out to dry all of those who were “responsible” for the Reading First fiasco at last week’s EWA meeting: Beth Ann Bryan. Bryan, currently a lobbyist with Akin Gump, was a senior advisor to Paige and, according to some, was Spellings’ plant in the Department and the contact person for Susan Neuman.
Here she is, pictured with Sandy Kress right after the passage of NCLB. Maybe this is just more Austin-Houston feuding (talk about the Hatfields and the McCoys). Bryan came into the Administration in early 2001 after having served as GW Bush’s education policy advisor in Texas. Her current client list according to OpenSecrets is here. She’s apparently on Miller’s list already, but I hadn’t seen her name in the press. Comment or email me if you know more, one way or the other, or have other information.