Devos hearing today @ 5 ET

[josieposy]

If anyone plans on watching. Will be on CSPAN for sure.

[downtoearth]

5 pm Eastern time? That seems late to start, are they not planning on hours of testimony? I better check to see who's on that committee again.

[downtoearth]

Oh yeah, here are the members...

I like the minority leader, Murray, for the Dems. Franken, Warren, Kaine, and Sanders are on this, so I'm expecting some tough questions and vetting.

www.help.senate.gov/about/members


Looks like we can watch live here too

www.help.senate.gov/hearings/nomination-of-betsy-devos-to-serve-as-secretary-of-education

[josieposy]

I'm just getting it on my tv now.

[josieposy]

Enzi used 4 of his 5 minutes to talk before asking an actual question regarding challenges of rural schools.

[josieposy]

Murray asking her to commit that she will not work to privatize education. Devos dodges.

[josieposy]

I can't believe we have 5 minutes each on this. What a crock.

[sushi]

I caught just a couple minutes while setting it to record. I wanted to throw things. It was all her talking about Christian schools and how it was a federal injustice she set out to fix.

She didn't even pretend that this wasn't about funding religious schools.

RAGERAGERAGE

[josieposy]

Bernie just basically asked her if she thinks she'd be there if she hadn't contributed so much money to the GOP.

[nursecramer]

Sanders's first question: How much money have you given to Republicans? Is $200M accurate?

DeVos says she doesn't know, but that it's possible.

[darnkatz]

Jan 17, 2017 18:21:32 GMT -5 josieposy said:

Bernie just basically asked her if she thinks she'd be there if she hadn't contributed so much money to the GOP.

Bernie Sanders is on fire tonight.

[josieposy]

Now it's Hatch's turn to kiss her butt for awhile.

[cherryvalance]

I was about to see if I could find it, but this might literally send me over the edge. I can't believe the majority of my career was under Christie, and now this.

[nursecramer]

Sanders: should we make public colleges tuition free?

Devos says we should make it "affordable".

S: If there's a single mom making $30-40K per year. [how is this affordable?]... what are your proposals for working families?

D: I understand the challenge that the young mother would face, and if we're talking about the future of the child and their education, I know we have common ground and we can work to ensure that child has a great opportunity in the future.

S: Points out other countries' free college models. Can we move to that?

She dodges again.

Sanders: "It's not a question of opportunity. It's a matter of whether they can afford it."

Still dodges. Sanders out.

[nursecramer]

Hatch: "I trust you will not force particular policies on states."

Oh yeah, like she forced anti-LGBTQ policies on PUBLIC universities in Michigan by threatening to withhold donations.

[downtoearth]

DeVos summary to Sander's questions: Kids should are fine until K to just do whatever, I will make sure parents have choices in schools (aka we will keep up charter/voucher ideas over inclusive, desegregated schools), and college should be affordable, but "nothing is free in life."

[momof2]

Hatch seems to be having trouble reading his own prepared remarks. Is he normally like this?

[josieposy]

The only answer she can give to anything is "I look forward to working with you on this...."

[nursecramer]

Just coming in after doing bedtime, but Franken is schooling BD on growth measures vs proficiency.

[josieposy]

Franken pointed out that 37 states prohibit public funding for public schools. Now he's mentioning that her family has donated $ to organizations that promote conversion therapy.

He's also pretty pissed that they aren't getting follow up questions.

[DotAndBuzz]

She is the worst. As someone in Michigan who has watched her play a heavy hand in wrecking this state's educational system, FUCK HER.

[josieposy]

She said student debt has gone up 980% in 8 years. Franken says it's acually 118%.

[nursecramer]

Now Franken is asking about her support of conversion therapy.
"Do you still believe in conversion therapy?"
"I've never believed in that. I believe in equality and the inate value of every human being. So let's start there. And your characterization of cnotributions doesn't accurately reflect those of my family. I hope you wouldn't include family member other than my core family."

Franken challenges her on some numbers and then asks why they can't ask more questions. Murray chimes in that there is precedent for longer questioning periods.

[darnkatz]

I look at her stupid bitch ass face and want to push her over into a giant mud puddle. Fuck.her.

[nursecramer]

Now some softballs from Cassidy.

[nursecramer]

Bennet begins by saying how with her lack of history in public service, they need more time in the hearing.

[josieposy]

I missed the first part, but it sounds like Bennett is bringing up Detroit schools.

[josieposy]

Oh and kudos to nursecramer for getting more details than I have.

[nursecramer]

Bennet points out failures of Detroit public schools and charters in Michigan in general. He asks what BD has learned from her experiences. She dodges and gives reasons why Detroit's schools are bad. He calls her back to "What have you learned?" she begins dodging again and he interrupts her and says "I'm sorry, but I'm sensitive because I'm not going to get a second round of questions. What have you LEARNED?" She handwaves about accountability.

[nursecramer]

Jan 17, 2017 19:01:28 GMT -5 josieposy said:

Oh and kudos to nursecramer for getting more details than I have.

I've disconnected brain and just type. DS1 is playing minecraft next to me, so I keep having to edit out when I inadvertently type his comments. lol