Betsy DeVos was confirmed yesterday (February 7th) as the new Secretary of Education, but only just -- as Vice President Mike Pence's vote was required to break a 50-50 tie in the Senate, the first time that's happened for a Cabinet nominee. Two Republican senators, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, broke ranks to vote against DeVos, a wealthy Republican donor and activist for charter schools and vouchers who has little experience in public education. Despite an all-night Senate marathon by the Democrats, they were unable to get a third Republican to defect and defeat the nomination.
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