Posted on 01/17/2017 5:16:46 PM PST by MtnClimber
Betsy DeVos, the billionaire conservative activist and nominee for secretary of education, will likely face one of the most contentious confirmation hearings in the history of the department on Tuesday.
Since being tapped by President-elect Donald Trump, DeVos has been a lightning rod in the media and on Capitol Hill. Her supporters praise her outspoken commitment to school choice and her efforts to expand charter schools around the nation. On the other hand, critics believe that her agenda will undermine public education and drain resources from traditional public schools.
DeVos will face rigorous questioning regarding her school choice advocacy, her past political contributions, and her views on civil rights, according to conversations with key members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee.
“Parents across the country want to know that their government is doing everything possible to make sure that their kids, and all kids, have access to a high quality and safe public education,” Sen. Patty Murray, the ranking Democrat on the committee, told RealClearEducation. “So I look forward to asking tough questions about Ms. DeVos’s extensive record, career experiences, financial history, and vision for the Department of Education and the many ways it impacts students and families.”
Democrats on the panel believe that DeVos's wealth and prior political activities make her a target-rich candidate. Asked for a comment in advance of the hearing, Sen. Elizabeth Warren's office responded with a link to the 16-page letter she sent to DeVos on January 9, replete with aggressive questioning and cutting criticisms of her record. "There is no precedent for an Education Department Secretary nominee with your lack of experience in public education," the Massachusetts lawmaker wrote.
(Excerpt) Read more at realclearpolitics.com ...
The DemocRATs clearly are not pro-choice.
The federal government has nothing to do with education other than money. All content and policy is local.
I have been listening to the hearing for several hours. The Dems on the committee have been whining about the rules restricting questions.
The chair is insisting on following all the rules that have been followed for prior candidates, including Obama’s. One of the Pubbies pointed out that if the Dems had spent less time whining, they would have had time to ask the second question they keep blathering about.
They are also complaining about lack of opinion from some gov. agency regarding conflict of interest. The Chairman is responding firmly to a wide range of complaints just now. Jerk Dem Woman is giving him lip right now.
Who gives a rats ass what these degenerate communist animal “democrats” have to say in these “hearings”
She either has the support of the majority Republicans on the Committee or not.
Time to make communist heads roll.
NO MERCY
If I was the nominee, I’d be getting up about now, and tell these Poz that I’ll be happy to return when they have finished their argument and agreed on the rules.
What a colossal waste of time to sit there and argue over their rules and policy.
Chair keeps saying that he is not going to allow Trump’s nominees to be treated different than Obama’s.
Publik Skoolz are crap.
Excrement.
Offal.
Pond scum.
And, of course, they are that way because of liberals.
Who are also, crap.
Excrement.
Offal.
Pond scum.
Look at how many politicians send their own children to private schools. It is as if they expect their children to be the educated, elite future rulers. The rest are to be the public school, ignorant, future dependent class.
She will be confirmed. Pubs are in the majority and arrogant Dems did away with a 3/4 vote and the filibuster. She just has to sit there and take it. First week in she will start dismantling the Dept of Edjucation.
Seen some of it too, DeVos way outclassed the Democrats petty snipping. The Democrats also have Bernie Sanders who demanded DeVos completely agree with his Socialist agenda.
Still think the best of the worst was a previous committee where the Democrat question (whined) that Trump’s family wouldn’t ‘profit’... Although that was still going on here.
Patty Murray playing the Trump treating-women-badly card (Billy Bush tape). The Rat ladies have their sharpened claws out for her.
LOL, DEMS are being contentious about not being able to have a second round of questions.
Committee just adjourned.
watched it.
devoss did not do well.
trump should have picked an educator.
nothing on common core.
she will be confirmed on party line vote because she’s Jebs pick, in addition to financial interests in charter schools held by many pubies
What is that supposed to mean?
School choice is a horrible idea. You want to turn your non-failing school into a failing school, just turn it into a school of choice and open it up to kids from failing schools. Just be careful what you advocate for. I saw it happen first hand. Vouchers are another bad idea.
Elizabeth Warren thinks she should have banking experience as well.
she looked like a deer in the headlights.
she lacked some basic knowledge exposed by the dems, and could not defend charter schools effectively.
Carson, lacking specific gov’t/HUD experience, came across much stronger, had a vision, and did not let the dems walk all over him.
To me, she came across as a wealthy philanthropist with a good heart. If she can seriously shrink the DOE, that would be wonderful, but she did not come across as having the personality to deal with blowback and subterfuge she will get if she tries.
Good for Lamar Alexander for not backing down. What’s good for Obamas pick is good for Trumps. The spoiled brats, and boy are they mean , nasty dems are not used to getting their own way. What would another round of questions going to accomplish? Like they’d change their minds and vote for her...NOT!
What is that supposed to mean?
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