BC-AP Service Guide

For Trump foes, Democratic gains may remain elusive in 2018

<p>WASHINGTON (AP) &#8212; Vice President Mike Pence says he fully expects billionaire GOP donor Betsy DeVos will be confirmed as education secretary with his tie-breaking vote.</p><p>Speaking on &#8220;Fox News Sunday,&#8221; Pence says the Trump administration is &#8220;very confident&#8221; she will take up her Cabinet post soon.</p><p>Last week, two Republican senators, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, said they would vote against DeVos&#8217; nomination, citing concerns from parents and teachers. Their opposition set up a 50-50 tie in the Senate if all Democrats vote against her and no other Republicans dissent. Pence would be the tie-breaker.</p><p>DeVos has faced fierce criticism from labor unions for her promotion of school choice. Democrats and teachers&#8217; organizations also accuse her of seeking to dismantle public education.</p><p>The Senate vote is Tuesday.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">President Donald Trump and Betsy DeVos pose for photographs at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster&#8217;s clubhouse in Bedminster, N.J. on Nov. 19, 2016. Republican Ohio Gov. John Kasich wrote a Jan. 24, 2017, letter urging confirmation of DeVos, Trump&#8217;s education secretary nominee, without mentioning the significant unpaid fine owed to Ohio by a now-defunct political action committee she controlled. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File) </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/web1_AP17033857147708.jpg</photo0><caption0>President Donald Trump and Betsy DeVos pose for photographs at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster&#8217;s clubhouse in Bedminster, N.J. on Nov. 19, 2016. Republican Ohio Gov. John Kasich wrote a Jan. 24, 2017, letter urging confirmation of DeVos, Trump&#8217;s education secretary nominee, without mentioning the significant unpaid fine owed to Ohio by a now-defunct political action committee she controlled. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File) </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>Associated Press</p></bylineMeta></div>

Pence: Education pick DeVos will be confirmed with his vote