Life and politics from the Sunshine State's best city

Tag archive

Betsy DeVos - page 2

ProPublica hit piece will deliver ‘inaccurate, untruthful’ attack on Orlando charter school

in Statewide/Top Headlines by

Searching for the best way to teach our nation’s children, many communities see charter schools as one of the most effective ways to help students otherwise struggling to make it in public education. Nevertheless, the pursuit of alternative solutions does not sit well with some, particularly those in the media who view charter schools a disruption of the status quo. With the election of President Donald Trump and his provocative nomination of Betsy DeVos — a longtime school-choice advocate — as U.S. Secretary of…

Keep Reading

You might be interested in

Activists march at Marco Rubio’s Tampa office, calling to reject Betsy DeVos as Education Secretary

in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by

Last month, Marco Rubio had harsh words for Rex Tillerson when he came before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee as Donald Trump‘s pick for Secretary of State. But the Florida senator ultimately went ahead and supported the former ExxonMobil CEO anyway. Now protesters are hoping Rubio won’t cave on Betsy DeVos. With the Tillerson turnaround fresh on their minds, more than two dozen activists gathered in front of Rubio’s Tampa district office Monday, urging him to reject DeVos as the next Secretary…

Keep Reading

You might be interested in

Betsy DeVos clears Senate hurdle toward becoming ed secy

in 2017/Top Headlines by

Betsy DeVos cleared a major hurdle in the Senate to become the next education secretary despite vigorous opposition from Democrats. Senators voted 52-48 to cut off debate at dawn Friday, setting the stage for a final confirmation vote next week on President Donald Trump‘s nominee. DeVos, a billionaire Republican donor, has faced fierce criticism from labor unions for her promotion of school choice. Democrats and labor unions have accused her of seeking to dismantle public education and divert funds to…

Keep Reading

You might be interested in

Environment Florida wants Bill Nelson to reject Scott Pruitt as EPA head

in 2017/Top Headlines by

Scott Pruitt is one step closer to being the next leader of the Environmental Protection Agency. On Thursday, Republicans on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee voted 11-0 to confirm Pruitt, who serves as Oklahoma Attorney General. Democrats on the committee boycotted the vote. Pruitt, a climate change skeptic, was one of 14 attorneys general suing the EPA over regulations to limit carbon emissions put in place by the Obama administration. The entire Senate will vote on his confirmation next week and the advocacy…

Keep Reading

You might be interested in

GOP pushes 2 top Cabinet picks through to full Senate

in 2017/Top Headlines by

Republicans jammed two of President Donald Trump‘s top Cabinet picks through the Senate Finance Committee with no Democrats in the room Wednesday after suspending a rule that would have otherwise barred them from taking the vote. The tactic seemed a warning shot that they might deploy brute political muscle in the upcoming fight over the Supreme Court vacancy. With a near-toxic vapor of divisiveness between the two parties across Capitol Hill, nasty showdowns broke out elsewhere as well. One Senate…

Keep Reading

You might be interested in

Sean Spicer says 20 percent tax on Mexican imports just an option

in 2017/Top Headlines by

The Latest on President Donald Trump (all times EST): 4:50 p.m. White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer now says slapping a 20 percent tax on imports from Mexico is just one of several options on the table for paying for a wall along the southern border. Spicer says President Donald Trump has yet to make a final decision about how the U.S. will recoup the costs of his proposed border wall. Spicer had said earlier Thursday that Trump wanted to…

Keep Reading

You might be interested in

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos could mean more Florida charter schools, a lot more

in 2017/Top Headlines by

Betsy DeVos, whose children never attended public schools, may soon lead the nation’s Department of Education. Assuming she is confirmed, care to take a guess what Florida public education will look like four years from now? Perhaps former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, who is DeVos’ biggest cheerleader, can provide some insight. He wrote a stirring endorsement of her in Tuesday’s USA Today, coinciding with her hearing before a U.S. Senate confirmation panel. “Instead of defending and increasing Washington’s power, Betsy…

Keep Reading

You might be interested in

1 2 3
Go to Top