Senate Democrats are planning a rare all-night talkathon to protest Betsy DeVos's nomination for Education secretary ahead of an expected vote on Tuesday.
"Democrats will hold the floor for the next 24 hours, until the final vote, to do everything we can to persuade just one more Republican to join us," Sen. Patty Murray
Patricia (Patty) Lynn MurrayBiden health nominee faces first Senate test Overnight Health Care: US surpasses half a million COVID deaths | House panel advances Biden's .9T COVID-19 aid bill | Johnson & Johnson ready to provide doses for 20M Americans by end of March The Hill's 12:30 Report: Mars rover prepares for landing MORE (D-Wash.) said from the Senate floor Monday.
Patricia (Patty) Lynn MurrayBiden health nominee faces first Senate test Overnight Health Care: US surpasses half a million COVID deaths | House panel advances Biden's .9T COVID-19 aid bill | Johnson & Johnson ready to provide doses for 20M Americans by end of March The Hill's 12:30 Report: Mars rover prepares for landing MORE (D-Wash.) said from the Senate floor Monday.Unless Democrats agree to yield back some debate time, a final vote on DeVos is expected for noon Tuesday, when Vice President Mike Pence
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A spokesman for Murray confirmed that "Democrats plan to keep the floor open and there will be speeches over the night in this final push."
Multiple Senate Democrats indicated on Monday afternoon that they would take part in the late-night session to voice their objections to President Trump's nominee to lead the Department of Education.
Sen. Bob Casey
Robert (Bob) Patrick CaseyDemocrats blast Trump team videos: 'False equivalency' Centrist Democrats pose major problem for progressives What I learned in 19 weeks of working with progressive Democrats MORE Jr. (D-Pa.) said shortly after the Senate came into session at noon Monday that Democrats would speak out against DeVos from the Senate floor "for the next 24 hours."
Robert (Bob) Patrick CaseyDemocrats blast Trump team videos: 'False equivalency' Centrist Democrats pose major problem for progressives What I learned in 19 weeks of working with progressive Democrats MORE Jr. (D-Pa.) said shortly after the Senate came into session at noon Monday that Democrats would speak out against DeVos from the Senate floor "for the next 24 hours." For the next 24 hours, @SenateDems will #HoldTheFloor to oppose the nomination of Betsy DeVos.
— Senator Bob Casey (@SenBobCasey) February 6, 2017
Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) added that is he is scheduled to speak at 2 a.m.
DeVos, a GOP mega-donor, has been the subject of fierce opposition from teachers unions and other liberal groups over her support for charter schools and tuition vouchers using public funds.
She cleared a key procedural hurdle during a rare Friday morning session in a party-line 52-48 vote.
No Democrat is expected to support DeVos's nomination. GOP Sens. Susan Collins
Susan Margaret CollinsKlain on Manchin's objection to Neera Tanden: He 'doesn't answer to us at the White House' Overnight Health Care: Johnson & Johnson vaccine safe, effective in FDA analysis | 3-4 million doses coming next week | White House to send out 25 million masks Biden's picks face peril in 50-50 Senate MORE (Maine) and Lisa Murkowski
Lisa Ann MurkowskiOvernight Health Care: Johnson & Johnson vaccine safe, effective in FDA analysis | 3-4 million doses coming next week | White House to send out 25 million masks Biden's picks face peril in 50-50 Senate Murkowski undecided on Tanden as nomination in limbo MORE (Alaska) are expected to vote against her.
Susan Margaret CollinsKlain on Manchin's objection to Neera Tanden: He 'doesn't answer to us at the White House' Overnight Health Care: Johnson & Johnson vaccine safe, effective in FDA analysis | 3-4 million doses coming next week | White House to send out 25 million masks Biden's picks face peril in 50-50 Senate MORE (Maine) and Lisa MurkowskiLisa Ann MurkowskiOvernight Health Care: Johnson & Johnson vaccine safe, effective in FDA analysis | 3-4 million doses coming next week | White House to send out 25 million masks Biden's picks face peril in 50-50 Senate Murkowski undecided on Tanden as nomination in limbo MORE (Alaska) are expected to vote against her.Opponents are running out of time to find a crucial third Republican to help them sink DeVos. Republican Sens. Pat Toomey (Pa.), John Hoeven (N.D.), Dean Heller (Nev.) and Deb Fischer (Neb.) — each considered potential candidates to flip and oppose DeVos — announced late last week that they would support Trump’s nominee.
