Murphy: I will vote ‘no’ on Betsy DeVos for Education secretary

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) is joining several of his Democratic colleagues in publicly announcing his intention to vote against Betsy DeVos for Education secretary.

“Guns in classrooms? Elementary schools run for profit? No thanks,” Murphy tweeted. “I will vote NO on Betsy DeVos for Secretary of Education.”

A member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, Murphy clashed with DeVos during her confirmation hearing on the subject of guns in schools.

{mosads}The senator, whose state was scarred by the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in 2012, said he was stunned when DeVos defended keeping guns in schools in order to ward off grizzly bears.

“This idea that you need guns in every school — a ban on gun-free school zones, as Donald Trump says he wants — because we have to protect kids from grizzly attacks?” Murphy said. “It’s sort of, on one hand, laughable, and on the other hand, tragic.”

Earlier Thursday, Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) declared that he will also be voting against DeVos.

“The president’s decision to ask Betsy DeVos to run the Department of Education should offend every single American man, woman, and child who has benefitted from the public education system in this country,” the Senate minority leader said.

No Republicans have announced opposition to DeVos. She is almost certain to be confirmed by the Senate, since Republicans hold 52 seats and only 50 votes are needed to win confirmation, with Vice President Pence breaking a tie.