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| Home Front: Politix |
| Betsy DeVos clears another hurdle in early morning Senate vote |
| 2017-02-03 |
| [CNN] The Senate voted early Friday to advance President Donald Trump's education secretary nominee Betsy DeVos to a final confirmation vote, which is expected Monday. The vote was 52 to 48 along party lines. Senators convened at the unusual, early hour -- 6:30 a.m. ET -- because of Democratic stalling tactics that reflect their unhappiness with Trump's cabinet picks and the overall confirmation process. DeVos has come under fire from Democrats and two key Republicans for her positions on public and charter schools, as well as statements made during her confirmation hearing last month. Despite losing support from Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, she is expected to be confirmed Monday with the help of Vice President Mike Pence, who will be in the chamber to break an expected 50-50 tie. Collins and Murkowski, who both have said they intend to vote against DeVos' final conformation, voted to end the debate and advance her confirmation, as expected. In an impassioned show of opposition, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer implored other senators to "look into their conscience" over the weekend and reconsider their support for DeVos, saying she is "one of the worst nominees that has ever been" brought before the Senate. |
| Posted by:Besoeker |
| #5 Murkowitz got enough campaign $ to pay for a couple weeks of her blow |
| Posted by: Frank G 2017-02-03 13:04 |
| #4 letting an inner city kid choose which school they go to is a bad thing "But, but, but, "the Massa loves" each and everyone of them!" |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2017-02-03 12:35 |
| #3 This position is probably representative of Collins' constituency, and makes sense if she wants to be re-elected. Not sure about Murkowski - maybe Alaska Paul can comment on whether state politics have shifted leftward to match the rest of the left coast. |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2017-02-03 12:11 |
| #2 Collins and Murkowski, who both have said they intend to vote against DeVos' final conformation... There should be an email campaign reminding them that they can be primaried out of office if they're not interested in supporting the team. |
| Posted by: Crusader 2017-02-03 12:03 |
| #1 Translation: "If she is confirmed the teachers' unions will be weakened and their I wonder WHERE the democrats got the notion that letting an inner city kid choose which school they go to is a bad thing.... |
| Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom 2017-02-03 12:02 |