Alaska senators ultimately split as DeVos becomes Education secretary

When the vice president has to break a tie in the Senate, it’s an indication that whatever the Senate is voting on has just barely cleared the minimum level of acceptability.

However, Democrats were standing their ground with an overnight protest against the education secretary pick.

DeVos has never attended public school nor received federal aid to pay for higher education, two key aspects of her new job atop America’s public education system. Senate Democrats held a marathon night of debates on Monday into Tuesday morning to try to sway one more Senate Republican to vote against DeVos’ confirmation.

What to expect: DeVos, a Republican, has faced stiff opposition leading up to the final vote. DeVos was confirmed in the tightest vote in history for a cabinet nominee, with Vice President Mike Pence casting the first-ever tie-breaking vote.

Nebraska senators Deb Fischer and Ben Sasse voted for DeVos as did Iowa senators Joni Ernst and Chuck Grassley. “I pledge to listen and learn from you, and stakeholders around the country”, DeVos said.

Hollywood types were quick to react to today’s (sorta) nail-biter confirmation of Betsy DeVos as Donald Trump’s Secretary of Education.

Jenkins says her concerns lie with what will happen to public schools if DeVos, who’s been an advocate of charter schools, takes away funding.

Last week, Trump’s press secretary Sean Spicer said DeVos is an “unbelievable, remarkable woman who has fought very hard to improve our nation’s education system and to make sure that schools are serving children”.

The chamber is locked in a 50-50 split over her nomination.

Young voted yes in committee, and is expected to vote yes on the full Senate vote Tuesday.

She is, according to a statement from the Ohio School Boards Association, “well-known for her long-standing advocacy of school choice and voucher programs”. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Sen.

The Late Show’s Stephen Colbert offered up an example of “elementary math” under DeVos.