Following a tie in votes for and against Betsy DeVos, Donald Trump's nominee for the position of Education Secretary in the U.S. Senate, Vice President Mike Pence cast a positive vote for Ms. DeVos, leading to her confirmation. According to Reuters, Democrats in the U.S. Senate attempted to persuade Republicans to oppose Betsy DeVos, but they could not rally more than two Republicans to their side. 46 Democratic senators, along with two independent senators and two Republican senators, opposed Ms. DeVos. Ultimately, the number of supporters and opponents for the proposed nominee for the Department of Education reached 50 to 50. According to the report, with Mike Pence's positive vote on Tuesday, Ms. DeVos was able to secure the necessary vote from the Senate. As reported by NPR, according to the U.S. Constitution, the Vice President serves as the President of the Senate and can only vote when there is a tie. With Mike Pence's vote on Tuesday, this marks the 245th time in Senate history that a Vice President has voted in the Senate, but it is the first time this vote has been used to break a tie for a cabinet nominee. Following the Senate's confirmation vote for Ms. DeVos, Donald Trump congratulated her. She was sworn in as U.S. Education Secretary with Mike Pence present after the Senate vote. Meanwhile, Democrats were strongly opposed to Ms. DeVos, arguing that she is not qualified to hold this position. Chuck Schumer, the Senate Minority Leader, stated that Ms. DeVos does not value the public education system, while 90% of the country's students are currently enrolled in this public system. On the other hand, Republicans criticized the Democrats' approach to this nominee. Betsy DeVos's father owned an auto parts manufacturing company, and her brother, Erik Prince, is the founder of the security company Blackwater. In related news, Mike Pompeo was confirmed as the head of the CIA by the U.S. Senate, Nikki Haley was confirmed as the U.S. representative to the United Nations, a federal judge in Washington state temporarily halted Trump's travel ban executive order, and Rex Tillerson was confirmed as the U.S. Secretary of State, bringing him one step closer to assuming the position.
Betsy DeVos Confirmed as U.S. Education Secretary by Vote of Vice President Pence
Betsy DeVos was confirmed as U.S. Education Secretary after a tie vote in the Senate was broken by Vice President Mike Pence. Despite strong opposition from Democrats, she received the necessary votes to assume her position. This confirmation is significant as it highlights the contentious political climate surrounding education policy in the U.S.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Betsy DeVos was confirmed as U.S. Education Secretary after a tie vote in the Senate was broken by Vice President Mike Pence. This event underscores the political divisions in the Senate regarding education policy.
- The Senate vote was 50 to 50, with Pence casting the deciding vote.
- DeVos faced strong opposition from Democrats who questioned her qualifications and commitment to public education.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Betsy DeVos is a prominent advocate for school choice and charter schools, which contrasts with traditional public education models. Her confirmation was contentious, reflecting broader debates over education in the U.S.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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