Oregon Politicians Unite Against Trump Education Pick

Oregon elected officials - all Democrats - came out in force Friday to oppose President Trump's nominee for Secretary of Education. Senators Jeff Merkely and Ron Wyden will both vote against confirming her.

"DeVos sparked national alarm after her confirmation hearing, in which she expressed support for defunding public schools, appeared unfamiliar with basic education policy, and stated that it was 'best left to the states' whether publicly-funded schools must follow federal civil rights laws protecting students with disabilities," Merkley, along with Representative Earl Blumenauer and Representative Suzanne Bonamici said in a joint release.

Meanwhile, Wyden has also said he will not vote for DeVos.

“A bedrock principle of America’s public educational system is investing public money in schools meant to serve everyone, not siphoning off scarce taxpayer dollars to private or religious education," he said ina statement.

"Unfortunately, the president-elect’s choice for Education Secretary has indicated she supports an approach that flies in the face of America’s long-time, common-sense investment in public education opportunities that recognizes education is an essential rung to climb the economic ladder."

Merkley received more than 1.4 million petition signatures from concerned Americans who have expressed their opposition to DeVos's nomination through grassroots organizing group CREDO Action.

Photo Keith A. Almi via Wikimedia Commons.