Senate Committee Backs Betsy DeVos, But Two Future GOP Votes Uncertain

Education Week: The Senate education committee voted to move the nomination of Betsy DeVos for education secretary to the full Senate by a vote of 12 to 11 on Tuesday, following remarks that showed the bitter divisions between many Democrats and Republicans about President Donald Trump's nominee.

However, two Republicans on the committee expressed serious concerns about DeVos and wouldn't commit to voting for her in the full Senate. Both Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, said they had lingering worries about DeVos' stance on traditional public schools and her understanding of the U.S. Department of Education's role. The 12-to-11 vote broke along party lines, but not before some drama because in the committee's first vote on DeVos, one senator voted by proxy.

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