Betsy DeVos Faces Yet Another Massive Roadblock - Payoffs Uncovered (DETAILS)

Betsy DeVos Faces Yet Another Massive Roadblock - Payoffs Uncovered (DETAILS):

Betsy DeVos Faces Yet Another Massive Roadblock – Payoffs Uncovered (DETAILS)

Betsy DeVos may be facing another roadblock on her crusade to be education secretary.

Democrats have been extremely outspoken about the conflicts of interest of Betsy DeVos, and her apparent lack of judgment. DeVos has been criticized widely for believing in teaching creationism across the board, voucher programs, and for feeding money into charter schools in Michigan with a lack of oversight, and often, a lack of civil rights.

She further was called out by Warren in the Senate confirmation hearing for having no experience managing a loan program of this scale, nor has she ever used the loan program or attended a public school.

Five United States Senators are currently in the process of calling her to account as well for outright breaking Ohio election law. The undersigned Senators are Tom Udall, Sherrod Brown and Edward J. Markley, and Bernie Sanders. They call for her to pay her $5.3 million fine in relation to the offense:

‘[Letter] from 5 US Sens asking #BetsyDeVos to pay her $5.3M fine- FOR BREAKING OHIO ELECTION LAW #trumpleaks #DeVosHearing #rt #devosfacts #resist’

Ltr from 5 US Sens asking #BetsyDeVos to pay her $5.3M fine-FOR BREAKING OHIO ELECTION LAW #trumpleaks #DeVosHearing #rt #devosfacts #resistpic.twitter.com/MsMuyO0smM

— Scott Dworkin (@funder) January 26, 2017

Democrats called for a second hearing due to the extensive and complex financial ties and dealings the billionaire DeVos has. Among these ties, it seems, is included $48,000 in donations in 2016 to Republican Senator of Indiana, Todd Young.

The news of this conflict of interest struck particularly hard with teachers in Indiana, who subsequently staged a sit-in to demand Young to recuse himself from the DeVos vote.

Todd Young is a part of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee which is holding an executive session on January 31 to vote on DeVos.

Sen. Young had his staff respond to questions from Eyewitness News, claiming that Young has no intention of recusing himself. His reasoning is that other Senators have previously voted despite conflicts of interests like donations prior.

Unfortunately, Young is not the only Senator who should be recusing themselves due to DeVos donations and a conflict of interest.

The Federal Election Commission details that Betsy and her husband Dick have donated over $1 million to Senators from 1980 to 2016:

• Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO)             $33,100
• Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC)         $43,200
• Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA)           $70,200
• Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR)         $26,000
• Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT)       $46,800
• Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO)       $49,800
• Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA)     $21,600
• Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI)        $48,600
• Sen. John McCain (R-AZ)         $50,600
• Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY)    $36,400
• Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)     $43,200
• Sen. David Perdue (R-GA)        $23,400
• Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH)        $51,000
• Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD)         $46,800
• Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL)          $98,300
• Sen. Timothy E. Scott (R-SC)   $49,200
• Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK)        $23,400
• Sen. John Thune (R-SD)          $17,500
• Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC)           $70,200
• Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA)          $60,050
• Sen. Todd Young (R-IN)          $48,600

Additionally, DeVos gave $2.25 million in the fall to the Senate Leadership Fund tied to Sen. Mitch McConnell, and over $900,000 to the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

DeVos also donated 1.45 million dollars to Republican candidates in a seven-week span between June and July of 2016 in Michigan.

It is a saga that just keeps going and going. Regarding the financial conflicts of interest, and the accusations that she has quite literally purchased herself the nomination, DeVos stated:

‘I have decided, however, to stop taking offense at the suggestion that we are buying influence…Now I simply concede the point. They are right. We do expect something in return.’

People across the country have been speaking out by calling their representatives in the Senate to protest. It is likely that more sit-ins like this will occur as Devos’ confirmation date draws closer.

Feature Image via Getty Images/Chip Somodevilla.

Betsy DeVos Faces Yet Another Massive Roadblock - Payoffs Uncovered (DETAILS):

Look What You’ve Done – An Open Letter to My Mother | Seattle Education

Look What You’ve Done – An Open Letter to My Mother | Seattle Education:

Look What You’ve Done – An Open Letter to My Mother

When you announced your plans, at your 70th birthday last summer, to vote for him, I patiently explained why a vote for Trump was a direct vote against the safety and well being of your only two grandchildren. You didn’t listen. You spouted rhetoric about how much you hated Hillary and didn’t trust the government. As we drove away from your house that day I knew in my heart that it would be the last time I would bring my children there. Something in the way your husband blurted out, during lunch, about his gun not being secured while Beezus was alone in your house made me realize that this was no place for my most beloved humans, my children, your only grandchildren.

Over the next few months I tried to appeal to your rational side. I don’t believe you are racist and I know you’re not homophobic. I’ve also always known you to be a feminist, maybe you’ve changed and I just didn’t notice. Maybe I assumed you were still the mother I had in 1969, 1974, 1980. I kept sending articles your way and sharing the writings of your very astute LGBTQ 12 year old granddaughter. You did not budge.

And then the morning after, when the rest of the nation was mourning our loss, when my 6 year old was too sad to go to school-trying to grasp why grown ups would elect a bully for their president, you went on Facebook to gloat in his victory. You told us that he would fix everything that was wrong with our country. When I reminded you that you had chosen to vote against your own granddaughters’ well being, you chose to ignore me.

And now it has begun. First he and his cronies, white men who have never known a day without extreme privilege, have made plans to dismantle my children’s health care coverage. We are income eligible for Apple Health and since enrolling after the ACA was enacted my children have received free medical and dental coverage. In the past, when my daughters, your granddaughters, were uninsured we didn’t take them to the doctor Look What You’ve Done – An Open Letter to My Mother | Seattle Education:

CURMUDGUCATION: ICYMI: Has it only been a week edition + Catch up with CURMUDGUCATION

CURMUDGUCATION: ICYMI: Has it only been a week edition (1/29):

ICYMI: Has it only been a week edition (1/29)

It is really hard to keep a focus strictly on education these days, and yet tomorrow morning, those of us who teach will be headed back into our classrooms whether the world is burning or not. 

Media Consensus on Failing Schools Paved Way for DeVos

Making the case that years of repeating that "everybody knows" how badly schools are failing set us all up for someone like Betsy DeVos. 

Channeling My Rage

Mary Holden on finding a way to turn frustration and anger into positive action.

What Taxpayers Should Know About the Public Cost of School Choice

Valerie Strauss and Carol Burris take a look at what school choice really does to public schools.

Can the President Handle the Truth 

Yet another excellent response to that ignorant "flush with cash" line

Chris Christie Bashes Teachers, But Now Noone Cares

Jersey Jazzman notes that Christie has returned to his standard fallback in troubled times-- those damned teachers. But this time it's not enough to save his butt.

FaxZero

As our congresspersons make themselves harder and harder to contact (well, harder if you don't have a bunch of money to flash), it's necessary to get more creative. This website will let you send a free fax to your senator without even registering or setting up an account.


CURMUDGUCATION: ICYMI: Has it only been a week edition (1/29):

Catch up with CURMUDGUCATION

Don't Read Me Today

13by Peter Greene / 19h

Seriously. I'm not blogging today. I'm throwing all those words into tweeting, emailing and Facebook messaging my Senators and Representatives and telling them that so much of what's happening this week is not okay (I would be phoning them, but nobody's answering the phones and all the voicemails are full). Not the refusal to oppose Betsy DeVos. Not the muslim ban, exerted against legal residents

JAN 27

Friend$ of DeVos

16by Peter Greene / 1d

If you follow the many pieces about Presumptive Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, you will notice that there are folks who stand up for her as a super-duper prospect for Secretary of Education. For instance, Grand Rapids Public Schools Superintendent Teresa Weatherall Neal spoke up for her hometown girl Betsy, and was, according to released emails, prepared to accept an all-expenses-paid trip to

More Discouraging USED Appointments

17by Peter Greene / 1d

The Trump Department of Education continues to shape up as a place that is, perhaps, more about patronage than education. Today we have word from the Huffington Post that a memo from Jason Botel (another supremely reformy appointment as Senior White House Adviser for Education) that the following folks have been brought into the department: Derrick Bolen Debbie Cox-Roush Kevin Eck Holly Ham Ron Ho

JAN 26

IN: Teacher Sit-in For DeVos Senator

500+by Peter Greene / 2d

Todd Young was born in 1972 in Lancaster, PA. Today (Thursday) he's an Indiana senator with an office full of grumpy teachers. Young's family moved him to Indiana, where he graduated from public high school and then went straight into the Navy, from there to the Naval Academy, graduated Cum Laude, got a commission in the Marines. Soccer star, intelligence officer, head recruiter in Chicago/Indian

Edushyster In DeVosland

28by Peter Greene / 2d

Jennifer Berkshire often takes the unusual blogging step of doing actual journalism, like the kind where you call people and go places and actually talk to the carbon-based life forms who are involved in What's Going On. That's just part of what makes Edushyster required reading for anybody in the ed debates. She recently traveled to DeVosland, the Michigan home base and spawning ground for Betsy

JAN 25

Local Control

19by Peter Greene / 3d

States are increasingly telling cities what laws they may or may not pass . The most famous example may be North Carolina's HB-2, the notorious law that restricted bathroom access - but also, like laws passed in Alabama and other states , forbid cities to pass laws raising the minimum wage. State legislatures are taking action to undo the choices of voters. North Carolina's legislature decided the

JAN 24

Reformster Jason Botel Added To USED

16by Peter Greene / 4d

. @JasonBotel coming on as senior White House adviser for edu. Will work with acting secretary to lead new ED team: https://t.co/DPr9i1QLf8 — Caitlin Emma (@caitlinzemma) January 25, 2017 Jason Botel comes with the full reformy pedigree. He graduated from U of Penn in 1997 with a degree in English and went straight to work as a Teach for America recruit in Baltimore. He spent three whole years in

Competition vs. Quality

21by Peter Greene / 4d

It is an oft-stated truism-- competition creates excellence. If you are running a race, you will run faster and harder to beat people who are also running fast. If you are playing football, you will train to be better than the team facing you on the field. It seems sensible. There are some problems with this model just on its face. The people in the front of the pack, the winners, will get stronge

JAN 23

Dem-ish Reformsters Play Both Sides

18by Peter Greene / 5d

You know how it is. New school year starts, lunch time rolls around, and everyone has to decide who they want to sit with for the next year. Modern education reform has been fueled in part by folks pretending to be left-tilted Democrats while embracing right-tilted free market corporate-based policies. The sweet smoothie of neo-liberal conservatism has worked for years--it helped sell No Child Lef

JAN 22

Foggy College Readiness

16by Peter Greene / 6d

Chester "Checker" Finn is concerned. The former head of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute and current Maryland State Board of Education VP thinks that our students and families are enveloped in a giant bank of foggy lies, lies about their college readiness and their future prospects and the quality of their K-12 education. National Affairs includes Finn in their Winter 2017 issue with " The Fog of '

ICYMI: Let's Not Talk About Trump Edition (1/22)

6by Peter Greene / 7d

The problem with living through big moments in history is that everybody has to talk about them constantly while they're happening. Remember when the interwebs were all about cute cat pictures? Boy, those were the days. Meanwhile, remember to post and pass on things that speak to you. Reading Is Knowledge Horatio Speaks offers some words about the importance of content in reading (as opposed to th

The Most Troubling Lie

500+by Peter Greene / 7d

Sure, we know that Trump has a tendency to tell whoppers, stretch the facts, and just make shit up. But his insistence yesterday that his inauguration crowd was not smaller than Obama's 2009 inauguration crowd-- well, this one I find extra troubling. Here's why. It's so transparent. It's not like you can look at the photos, squint, and say, yeah, I can see how if you're really a fan of Trump, you

CURMUDGUCATION - http://curmudgucation.blogspot.com/

U.S. Public Schools Are NOT Failing. They’re Among the Best in the World | gadflyonthewallblog

U.S. Public Schools Are NOT Failing. They’re Among the Best in the World | gadflyonthewallblog:

U.S. Public Schools Are NOT Failing. They’re Among the Best in the World

Everyone knows U.S. public schools are failing.

Just like everyone knows you should never wake sleepwalkers, bulls hate red and Napoleon was short.

Wrong on all counts. Waking sleepwalkers will cause them no harm – in fact, they’re more likely to harm themselves while sleepwalking. Bulls are colorblind; they’re attracted to movement. And Napoleon was 5’7”, which was above average height for Frenchman during his lifetime.

So why do we believe that American public schools are doing such a terrible job?

Because far right policymakers have convinced us all that it’s true.

It’s not.

Let me repeat that in no uncertain terms – America’s public schools are NOT failing. They are among the best in the world. Really!

Here’s why: the United States educates everyone. Most other countries do not.

We have made a commitment to every single child regardless of what their parents can afford to pay, regardless of their access to transportation, regardless of whether they can afford uniforms, lunch or even if they have a home. Heck! We even provide education to children who are here illegally.

That can’t be said of many countries with which we’re often compared – especially countries comparable to the U.S. in size or diversity. So from the get-go, we have an advantage over most of the world.

We define education differently. Though our laws are woefully backward, in practice we look at it as a right, not a privilege. And for a full 13 years (counting kindergarten) it’s a right for every child, not just some.

But that’s not all! We also provide some of the highest quality education you can get in the world! We teach more, help more, achieve more and yet we are criticized more than any system in any country in the world.

TEST SCORES

Critics argue that our scores on international tests don’t justify such a claim. But they’re wrong before you even look at the numbers. They’re comparing apples to U.S. Public Schools Are NOT Failing. They’re Among the Best in the World | gadflyonthewallblog:

Fair and Balanced Education and Journalism: On the Death of Democracy | radical eyes for equity

Fair and Balanced Education and Journalism: On the Death of Democracy | radical eyes for equity:

Fair and Balanced Education and Journalism: On the Death of Democracy

Once I posted a reader for Trumplandia, based on the increased sales of George Orwell’s 1984 as well as the related thought pieces on important texts from Orwell and other writers, I was not surprised by the expected response calling for teachers and classrooms to be somehow politically neutral.

I have rejected this idea often, focusing on Howard Zinn’s brilliant metaphor of being unable to remain neutral on a moving train. Both calling for no politics in any context and taking a neutral stance are, in fact, political themselves—the former is a political strategy to deny some Others their politics while imposing your own and the latter is the politics of passively endorsing the status quo (in a society where racism and sexism, for example, continue to thrive, being neutral is an inidrect endorsement of both).

Education and journalism—universal free public education and the free press—share many important and disturbing qualities: they are essential to the creation and preservation of a free and equitable people, they remain mostly unachieved in the U.S. in practice because they are often the tools of powerful people and forces who distort their ideal contributions to democracy and equity, and at the heart of that failure (we have failed them; they have not failed us) is the shared traditional code of education/teachers and journalism/journalists assuming neutral poses, being forced into a state of objectively presenting both sides in a fair and balanced way.

Particularly in the post-truth times we now find ourselves—and I argue we are here because of our failures in education and journalism—demanding that educators and journalists remain neutral is not the right goal and not actually how either functions.

In fact, education and journalism are always political, and in most contexts, educators and journalists routinely break the rule of neutrality—and thus, when anyone wags a finger and exclaims “We must be fair and balanced! Show both sides!” the truth is not that educators or journalists are being ideological or biased, but that someone in power feels that his/her politics is being challenged.

Let me illustrate in both education and journalism, starting with the media.

As I have noted before, when we compare the Ray Rice inspired public debate about domestic abuse to the Adrian Peterson motivated public debate about corporal punishment, the unbiased press myth is completely unmasked because domestic abuse (men hitting and psychologically Fair and Balanced Education and Journalism: On the Death of Democracy | radical eyes for equity: