As expected, Vice President Mike Pence cast the tiebreaking vote to confirm Betsy DeVos as Secretary of Education.
Today’s vote to confirm Education Secretary @BetsyDeVos was a vote for every child having a chance at a world-class education. https://t.co/zdF3OzIohN
— Vice President Pence (@VP) February 7, 2017
Sen. Joe Donnelly (D-IN) voted no, and Sen. Todd Young (R-IN) voted yes on her confirmation.
Donnelly spoke on the Senate floor Monday evening, reading letters from Indiana constituents who opposed DeVos.
WATCH | Sen. Joe Donnelly reads letters from constituents opposing Betsy DeVos
On Jan. 25, Donnelly announced he would oppose DeVos' nomination.
PREVIOUS | Sen. Joe Donnelly to oppose Betsy DeVos for U.S. Secretary of Education | Democratic senator: We may flip another GOP vote on DeVos
Sen. Todd Young (R-IN) is part of the U.S. Senate committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, so he had a vote on whether to advance her to the full Senate.
Young voted yes in committee, and is expected to vote yes on the full Senate vote Tuesday.
“Betsy DeVos has devoted her life to the field of education," Young's spokesperson said in a statement. "She has an unwavering belief that parents should be in charge of making choices about their child's education. Senator Young looks forward to working with Ms. DeVos as Secretary of Education.”
DeVos has been a major funder of Indiana's school voucher movement. Her family has given millions of dollars to the American Federation for Children, which has then donated money to proponents of voucher programs.
RELATED | Betsy DeVos has been major donor in Indiana school voucher push
