Michigan's Betsy DeVos' nomination to be the nation's Education Secretary clears a key Senate hurdle this morning. Senators voted 52-48 to advance her nomination.
Every Democrat voted no. The vote was held early this morning at 6:30 a.m.- a rare move. Senate rules call for an extra 30 hours of debate before DeVos can be confirmed which is why Republican Mitch McConnell scheduled the vote early this morning to get a start on running time off that clock. However, if Democrats drag it out, the final vote might not come until Tuesday.
DeVos is expected to confirm unless one Republican defects between now and the final vote. If it remains a 50-50 tie, Vice President Mike Pence will break the tie. Republican Senators Susan Collins of Maine, and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska announced earlier this week that they would be voting with Democrats against DeVos. McConnell doesn't think any other Republican will defect.
There has been a national outcry against DeVos winning confirmation. Democrats and even some Republicans say she is not fit to serve because she has never worked in a public school.
Democrats are urging voters to flood the lines of Republican Senators in the states of Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Kansas, Ohio, and Nevada. Republican Senator John Cornyn of Texas told reporters this morning: "I expect her to be confirmed, you can take that to the bank."
