Senate Democrats Hold All-Night Session To Stop President Trump’s Education Secretary Betsy DeVos
By ABC NEWS // February 7, 2017
ABOVE VIDEO: Betsy DeVos Senate Confirmation Vote May Happen Today
(ABC NEWS) – Starting on Monday afternoon, the Democrats vowed to talk on the Senate floor for 24-hours with the hopes of persuading one more Republican to vote against DeVos, which could tip the balance against her but is unlikely to happen.
Overnight, many of the Senators used their time on the floor to reiterate their concerns about DeVos, while others decided to read letters and emails from constituents.
DeVos stirred up strong opposition from teachers’ unions and all 48 Senate Democrats, all of whom say they will vote against her. Two moderate Republicans say they plan to vote to block her nomination, but she still has the support of 50 Republican senators as well as Vice President Mike Pence, who can cast the tie-breaking vote.
For procedural reasons, the earliest the Senate may vote on her confirmation is Tuesday at noon, so Democrats can eat up the remaining hours until the vote by railing against her on the Senate floor.
Sen. Joe Donnelly shared multiple anecdotes from “people all across Indiana,” including a letter that he said was from a former teacher who was consumed with “fear, fury and grief” over DeVos’ confirmation hearings.
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