Wednesday 1 February 2017

Two GOP senators to vote 'no' on Betsy DeVos

Posted by sizzledfeed on 12:33

Two GOP senators to vote 'no' on Betsy DeVos
BY JORDAIN CARNEY

GOP Sens. Susan Collins (Maine) and Lisa Murkowski in back-to-back speeches on the Senate floor announced Wednesday that they would oppose Betsy DeVos's nomination to be Education secretary.

They are the first two Republicans to break with Trump on any of his Cabinet picks, and the votes could make it difficult for DeVos to win confirmation.

If all of the Senate's Democrats vote against DeVos, she would have 50 votes if the remaining Republicans backed her — with Vice President Mike Pence potentially breaking the tie. No Democrats have backed DeVos.

"I come to the floor to announce a very difficult decision that I have made, and that is to vote against the confirmation of Betsy DeVos to be our nation's next secretary of Education," Collins said from the Senate floor.

Collins specifically pointed to DeVos's "lack of familiarly" with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, saying she was "troubled and surprised."

Murkowski, speaking after Collins, said she had too many concerns to back DeVos.

"I have serious concerns about a nominee to be secretary of Education ... who has been so immersed in the discussion of vouchers," Murkowski said.

"I do not intend to vote on final passage to support Ms Devos to be secretary of Education," she said.

She added that the DeVos's nomination was a "personal" decisions and that her office had been flooded with calls from constituents opposing Trump's pick.

"I have heard from thousands, truly thousands, of Alaskans who shared their concerns," she said.

"I do not intend to vote on final passage to support Ms Devos to be secretary of Education," she said.

If GOP leadership wants to clear DeVos through the Senate without requiring that the vice president break a potential 50-50 tie they will need to try to flip red-state Democrats up for reelection in 2018.

That could prove to be an uphill task. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), considered one of the most vulnerable Democrats up for reelection, announced on Wednesday that he will not support DeVos.

"The needs facing rural schools in West Virginia are unique and her lack of exposure to public education is very concerning for me," he said in a statement.

The Senate is expected to take a vote on Wednesday afternoon kicking off debate on DeVos's nomination.

The White House said Wednesday it has “zero” concern that DeVos's nomination is in jeopardy.

"I have 100 percent confidence she will be the next secretary of education,” White House press secretary Sean Spicer said at his daily briefing with reporters.

Spicer called DeVos an “unbelievably qualified educator and advocate for students, teachers, parents.”

“I think that the games being played with Betsy DeVos are sad,” he said.

Jordan Fabian contributed to this story.

Credit:http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/317379-gop-senator-to-vote-no-on-betsy-devos