DeVos Confirmation Destroys Another Governing Norm

Vice President Mike Pence showed up on Capitol Hill today in order to cast the tie-breaking vote to confirm Betsy DeVos as Secretary of Education. This marks the first time in our nation’s history that the Vice President had to perform this duty to get a cabinet member confirmed. In any other administration, DeVos’ nomination would have been pulled long ago and replaced by someone who at least had some understanding of the Education Department and federal education law. But, these days, with Trump and Republicans, it is all about “winning” and showing no weakness, admitting to no error. As Al Franken asked Republicans on the Senate floor, “ is there anyone President Trump could nominate for any position that you could vote against?” The answer is a resounding “NO!” And, with Pence’s vote, another governing norm gets destroyed by Republicans.

And let’s give a shout-out to Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski for exceptional profiles in cowardice. They could have killed DeVos’ nomination in committee but voted to let her nomination come to the floor of the Senate. There they could make their Potemkin vote of “courage” against DeVos with the knowledge that the rest of the GOP and Pence would push her nomination through. This has been Collins MO for decades and it is getting really sickening. She always manages to position herself as a “moderate” early on in any debate, but when the rubber hits the road, she always caves to the GOP position or finds a way to cast a vote like this that makes no difference.