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Betsy DeVos Confirmed as Education Secretary

nytimes.com

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Re: Betsy DeVos Confirmed as Education Secretary

#11

Post by ikeyany »

dcre wrote: post #4
Flammy wrote: post #2

So there was some press this morning on the democratic filibuster... It is not clear to me why it didn't last longer. Can anyone shed some light?

"Back in 2013, then-Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid changed the Senate’s filibuster rules so presidential Cabinet nominees only required 51 votes, rather than 60, to be confirmed." http://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/1/17/14251600/tr...

> Republicans warned that it would not only tear apart cross-party relationships in the Senate, but it will come back to haunt Democrats if they return to the minority. "You will no doubt come to regret this, and you may regret it a lot sooner than you think," Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., warned Democrats.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/11/21/harry...

Re: Betsy DeVos Confirmed as Education Secretary

#12

Post by llamataboot »

Well, education as a public good had a nice run. Not that it has been in particularly good shape in this country, but we have blueprints from other countries on how to improve it.

Instead we have a completely inexperienced person in control of $60bil+ because she paid off Congress. Seems par for the course these days.

Re: Betsy DeVos Confirmed as Education Secretary

#14

Post by ethanpil »

I think the public school system in this country is terrible. Personally excited to see some radical changes and ready to give this a chance.

Too much bureaucracy, institutionalization, unionization and inertia going on. Extremely strange and inconsistent funding/taxation patterns and complete lack of oversight or accountability has been the norm for 30+ years.

Re: Betsy DeVos Confirmed as Education Secretary

#15

Post by Magicstatic »

ethanpil wrote: post #14

I think the public school system in this country is terrible. Personally excited to see some radical changes and ready to give this a chance. Too much bureaucracy, institutionalization, unionization and inertia going on. Extremely strange and inconsistent funding/taxation patterns and complete lack of oversight or accountability has been the norm for 30+ years.

As with most events that have occurred since Trump took the presidency, I am concerned, but optimistic. She has my full support, I hope she makes great changes to a system that desperately needs it.

Re: Betsy DeVos Confirmed as Education Secretary

#17

Post by danielvf »

llamataboot wrote: post #12

Well, education as a public good had a nice run. Not that it has been in particularly good shape in this country, but we have blueprints from other countries on how to improve it. Instead we have a completely inexperienced person in control of $60bil+ because she paid off Congress. Seems par for the course these days.

Source on paying off congress?

Re: Betsy DeVos Confirmed as Education Secretary

#19

Post by vanattab »

bb88 wrote: post #10
vanattab wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The Democrats removed the 60 vote requirement to break all filibusters for all appointments excluding SCOTUS appointments. It is turning around to bite them in the butt.

Not sure about that. At some point government has to work in spite of a reluctant congress. The rules should be about making governance better, not just helping our side to win the battle.

Just remember you said this when it comes time to nominate Gorsuch.

Re: Betsy DeVos Confirmed as Education Secretary

#20

Post by ComradeTaco »

llamataboot wrote: post #12

Well, education as a public good had a nice run. Not that it has been in particularly good shape in this country, but we have blueprints from other countries on how to improve it. Instead we have a completely inexperienced person in control of $60bil+ because she paid off Congress. Seems par for the course these days.

Fortunately, most public school policy funding occurs at the state and local levels as compared to the federal level.

DeVos is and remains exceedingly unqualified for the position. She's literally never been taught or been taught in a public school in the entirety of her life. Her B.S. is in poly sci.

Her brother founded what was once known as Blackwater, the same Blackwater that murdered civilians in Iraq. Her husband is heir to the Amway fortune, a name quite prominent in the multi-level marketing community. They also donated 200 million USD to Republican campaigns and causes.

Absolutely absurd.

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