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Betsy DeVos, Donald Trump's nominee for education secretary, appeared before senators at her confirmation hearing on Jan. 17, but some of her responses created more questions than they answered. (Jenny Starrs/The Washington Post)

More than 300 state lawmakers hailing from all 50 states have added their voices to the chorus objecting to President Trumps nomination of Betsy DeVos as education secretary.

The lawmakers, who are overwhelmingly Democrats, voiced their opposition to DeVos in a joint letter that is expected to be delivered to U.S. Senators on Monday, the day before a Senate committee is scheduled to vote on her nomination.

They comprise a minority of the more than 7,300 state legislators nationwide, but their criticisms echo those that have been made in recent weeks by Democratic Senators, labor unions, civil rights groups and advocates for children with disabilities, as well as many parents and teachers.

[Teachers, parents, kids protest DeVos ahead of confirmation vote]

The state lawmakers argue that DeVos, who has no professional experience in education, is unqualified for the job and that the charter schools and voucher programs she has worked to create and expand have undermined public schools, which they see as critical civic institutions that serve the majority of students.

As states embrace greater authority over education under the new Every Student Succeeds Act, the legislators wrote, we are deeply concerned that Ms. DeVos will bring her lack of experience with public education, her failure to understand key federal laws, and her track record of undermining public education at the state level with her to Washington.

The letter was coordinated by SiX Action, a group that has ties to labor and pushes progressive policies within states. (Read the full letter at the bottom of this post.)

The state lawmakers letter is just one of the latest volleys in what has become a pitched partisan battle over DeVoss confirmation.

[Key Republican defends DeVos, says Dems are desperately searching for reasons to reject her]

America Rising Squared an arm of the Republican super PAC America Rising on Monday launched an online advertising campaign defending DeVos as someone who knows what it takes to repair our failing schools.

The 30-second video accuses Democrats of bowing to the will of teachers unions and playing politics as usual with DeVoss nomination. It will run on social-media platforms nationally but will target residents offive states with Democratic senators: West Virginia, Montana, North Dakota, Missouri and Indiana.

By trying to block this extremely well-qualified nominee, Senate Democrats are once again putting the interests of their big labor allies ahead of the needs of millions of American kids trapped in the failing status quo, said Brian Rogers, executive director of America Rising Squared. Betsy DeVos is a critical part of the change America voted for this election, and we look forward to her serving with great distinction as Secretary of Education.

[ National Education Association: More than 1 million emails sent to senators urging a vote against DeVos]

America Rising Squared has been involved in promoting other Cabinet nominees, including Jeff Sessions forattorney general, Scott Pruitt for administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, Andrew Puzder for labor secretary, and Tom Price for health and human services secretary. But a spokesman said the five-figure ad buy on DeVoss behalf is the organizations most significant involvement to date.

The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions is scheduled to vote on DeVoss nomination Tuesday, with a full Senate vote expected in the coming weeks.

Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) said last week on MSNBCs Rachel Maddow Show that virtually all Democrats will vote against DeVoss nomination. But DeVos appears very likely to be confirmed: Republicans hold the Senate majority, and no GOP senators have indicated they intend to oppose her.

State lawmakers urge U.S. Senators to reject Betsy DeVos as education secretary by emma brown on Scribd

Originally posted here:
Progressives launch last-minute push against Betsy DeVos, and conservatives counter with online ad campaign - Washington Post