Senate Votes Yes on Betsy DeVos
After Senate Democrats spoke passionately for 24 hours straight about why they believe President Donald Trump’s nominee to head the Department of Education is unfit for the job and “ill-informed and confused” in the words of Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.), the full body voted today (February 7). The result: Betsy DeVos is the new secretary of education.
All of the body’s Democrats, Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) voted against DeVos, putting the final tally at 50-50. Vice President Mike Pence immediately cast the tie-breaking vote. The New York Times reports that this is the first time a VP has ever wielded this power to confirm a cabinet nominee.
Senator Bob Casey (D-Pa.), who announced yesterday's (February 6) #HoldTheFloor action, immediately tweeted about the outcome:
We lost a vote on Betsy DeVos, now we begin holding her accountable. The effort that began with families & students is just getting started.
— Senator Bob Casey (@SenBobCasey) February 7, 2017