Democratic lawmaker tears into DeVos: You’re ‘out to destroy public education’

by Jessie Hellmann - 12/12/19 11:08 AM ET

A Democratic congresswoman on Thursday rebuked Education Secretary Betsy DeVos as “out to destroy public education.”

The remarks from Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.) came during a tense House hearing focused on DeVos’s handling of students who claim they were defrauded by for-profit colleges.

“I’ve had some honest disagreements with my friends in the Republican Party on how to move education forward but I have never — not one time — believed they were out to destroy public education until I met you,” Wilson told DeVos during the House Education and Labor Committee hearing.

“You are the most unpopular person in our government. Millions will register to vote in 2020 and many will vote to remove you more than to remove the president.”

I’m glad that @BetsyDeVosED attended today’s hearing on debt relief for defrauded students, but her answers about her refusal to provide that much-needed relief were extremely dissatisfying. pic.twitter.com/9OxcOw5kU0

— Rep Frederica Wilson (@RepWilson) December 12, 2019

DeVos didn’t get the chance to respond, but Republicans on the committee said Wilson’s comments crossed the line.

“I just have to say one of those last comments was over the line — absolutely over the line,” said Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.).

“To say that Secretary DeVos is trying to destroy public education is going too far, and I believe every one of my colleagues agrees. We all sat up very quickly when that comment was said. That kind of comment cannot stand in this committee.”

Chairman Bobby Scott (D-Va.) rebuffed a Republican request to strike the comments from the record but said members should “refrain from questioning the motives of the members and the witnesses.”

Tags Betsy DeVos Bobby Scott Frederica Wilson Virginia Foxx