Education
Education

Senate set to consider, vote on Betsy DeVos as education secretary

Betsy DeVos, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to be the next Secretary of Education, testifies during her confirmation hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee January 17, in Washington, DC. . (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Betsy DeVos, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to be the next Secretary of Education, testifies during her confirmation hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee January 17, in Washington, DC. . (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
By Maureen Downey
Feb 6, 2017

Today is D-Day in Washington — the confirmation debate and vote on Betsy DeVos, one of Donald Trump’s most controversial nominees and the most contested.

Despite the assurance of President Trump’s spokesman Sean Spicer the confirmation is a cinch, the administration is making a last-ditch push today for DeVos in an email solicitation pleading with supporters to rally behind her.

The Michigan billionaire and mega Republican donor ran into trouble last week when two Republican senators announced they will not approve her, citing her lack of education experience. The announcement by Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, set off a flurry of politicking on both sides and an unusual 6:30 a.m. Senate vote Friday to advance the DeVos nomination.

While no other Republican senator has indicated a defection, the Trump White House wants to counter the vocal opposition to DeVos. Opponents have at times overwhelmed the voicemail and phone lines of Georgia's two GOP senators, neither of whom seems inclined to break ranks with their party. DeVos' support of vouchers and her history of promoting escape routes out of public schools have mobilized those who believe public education today needs a committed champion rather than a strong critic.

To read more, go to AJC Get Schooled.

About the Author

Maureen Downey has written editorials and opinion pieces about local, state and federal education policy since the 1990s.

Follow Maureen Downey on facebookFollow Maureen Downey on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

Students walk toward the Tate Student Center on the University of Georgia campus in Athens. State data released Tuesday shows that the rate of international students enrolling in Georgia’s public universities dropped dramatically this semester. (Jason Getz/AJC 2024)

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com

International student enrollment slows at Georgia universities

It is not yet clear if the slowdown in Georgia is an anomaly or a sign of things to come.

Atlanta parents, residents object to plans to close some schools

Due to lower enrollment and climbing costs, 16 school buildings would be repurposed under the plan, with several schools closing and their students rezoned for other schools.

Judge overturns expulsion of Cobb student who warned friends of school threat

A Cobb County judge said the school system did not prove that a student who warned friends about a perceived threat intentionally disrupted the school day.

The Latest

Students walk toward the Tate Student Center on the University of Georgia campus in Athens. State data released Tuesday shows that the rate of international students enrolling in Georgia’s public universities dropped dramatically this semester. (Jason Getz/AJC 2024)

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com

International student enrollment slows at Georgia universities

Atlanta parents, residents object to plans to close some schools

Three Atlanta school board races appear headed to runoffs

Featured

U.S. Rep. Mike Collins' Senate campaign used Sen. Jon Ossoff's Senate portrait (center) to create an AI-generated video of Ossoff talking about his vote not to end the government shutdown. The video was reposted to Collins' campaign account on X (left). (Screenshot)

Credit: Screenshot

OPINON

Murphy: Jon Ossoff warned about deepfakes. Now he is one.

A Mike Collins campaign video uses AI to make Sen. Jon Ossoff say outlandish things. A proposed state law would rein in such uses of AI in campaigns.

President of Atlanta Fed Raphael Bostic announces retirement

Atlanta Fed President and CEO Raphael Bostic has served in the role since 2017 and is the first Black and openly gay chief executive of a regional Fed bank.

2h ago

Savannah ditched 2 marathons. Can shorter race find Peachtree-like success?

Savannah is an attractive destination for those whose idea of a fun weekend getaway is a road race. But two marathons have left town. Will Saturday's shorter race be a keeper?