Wednesday, January 25, 2017

Betsy DeVos & Ron Johnson

By Jeff Simpson 



While The DOnalds Cabinet picks are starting to get confirmed, his pick for Education Secretary, Billionaire wife Betsy DeVos's confirmation vote has been delayed.   She put on an incredibly embarrassing performance in her original confirmation hearing and The GOP who are going to push her through need some more time between this performance:


and the vote hoping the short attention span the American public has allows them to forget how supremely unqualified Mrs. DeVos is.    Apparently marrying into the pyramid scheme(Amway) family, does not necessarily make one qualified.  Saying "I do" to the son of a con man does not add to your education.  

Ms. Devos, knowing her approval was hanging by a thread, decided to double down.   As Secretary of the Department of Education, she will not rule out defunding public education!!  

DeVos refused to promise that she would not privatize or strip funding from the public schools she would oversee if confirmed.
Asked bluntly by Sen. Patty Murray of Washington whether she would commit to keeping funding for public schools intact, DeVos dodged the question.
"I look forward, if confirmed, to working with you to talk about how we address the needs of all parents and all students," she said. "We acknowledge today that not all schools are working for the students that are assigned to them, and I'm hopeful that we can work together to find common ground and ways that we can solve those issues and empower parents to make choices on behalf of their children that are right for them."
"I take that as not be willing to commit to not privatizing public schools or cutting money from education," Murray replied.
"I guess I wouldn't characterize it in that way," DeVos said.

This being said, and being a public education advocate, I called my two Senators asking them to vote no on Mrs. D.    

Tammy Baldwin  
30 West Mifflin Street, Suite 700
Madison, WI 53703
Phone: (608) 264-5338    


Senator Baldwin has vowed to represent the people of WIsconsin and vote no on Betsy!   

Senator Ron Johnson
517 East Wisconsin Avenue
Suite 408
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Phone: (414) 276-7282
Fax: (414) 276-7284

I emailed and called Senator Johnson and this is the response I received:

Dear Mr. Simpson,
Thank you for contacting me about your concerns with the president-elect’s choices for his staff and cabinet.
The Constitution gives the president the power to appoint principal officers “by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.” The Constitution also allows Congress to let the president fill lesser offices without needing to obtain the Senate’s advice and consent.
I take the Senate's advice-and-consent duty very seriously because appointed individuals are entrusted with a great deal of power in their respective roles.   The right of the Senate to confirm high level executive nominations and judicial appointments is one of the most important checks the legislative branch has on the executive branch. At the same time, a president should be given latitude in making his appointments.
I think we should give the president-elect and his administration the chance to start governing. Then we, the people, can pass judgment on what the administration actually is doing rather than having to speculate on possible actions or policies. I am fully aware of the importance of filling positions within the judicial and executive branches and will work cooperatively with any administration in its efforts to appoint high-quality individuals. 
Thank you again for contacting my office. It is very helpful to hear the views of the constituents I serve. To date, my office has received more than 2,000,000 letters, emails and phone calls. My mission is to provide information to as many people as possible concerning the enormous financial and cultural challenges facing America. 

Please see my website at www.ronjohnson.senate.gov for additional information. It is an honor representing you and all the people of Wisconsin.
Sincerely,

Ron Johnson
United States Senator


I can promise you, if you vote for Ms. DeVos as Education Secretary, you are in no way representing me or my family.  

My question for the rest of the people in Wisconsin, please just try and picture your local community without the local schools.    Picture it objectively and deeply/.  Where would the kids go to school?  Where would the local civic pride come from?   How much would the value of your house be without a local school?     

Wisconsin, you sent RoJo back to the Senate. It is time to make him represent the people of WI and not the special interest and bitter party politics he has gotten so comfortable with!  

Please call him today and tell him no on DeVos!  

3 comments:

  1. "I take the Senate's advice-and-consent duty very seriously because appointed individuals are entrusted with a great deal of power in their respective roles. The right of the Senate to confirm high level executive nominations and judicial appointments is one of the most important checks the legislative branch has on the executive branch. At the same time, a president should be given latitude in making his appointments."
    Says the guy who wouldn't vote for supreme court nominee under Obama?

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  2. Of course the teachers union puppet Ms Baldwin will vote against Betsy DeVos.
    Tell me Jeff why the Democrats on the committee don't send their own children to public schools? Hypocrites

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    1. I know its a nice talking point but who sends their kids to private schools? Also for the people who do send their kids to private schools, are we paying for it?

      We have school choice you can send your kids anywhere you want. You can homeschool them the finer arts of snake handling if you want. However public education money should be for public education

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