Senate Democrats seek answers about a Trump higher ed task force

Betsy DeVos greets Sen. Patty Murray before her confirmation hearing on Jan. 17. DeVos took office as education secretary on Feb. 7. Senate Democrats are asking Education Secretary Betsy DeVos for details on a higher education task force that the president of Liberty University says the Trump administration has asked him to lead. In a letter to DeVos released Thursday, six lawmakers said they are concerned that there has been no public explanation by the president or the administration about the purview of the task force.

Senate hearing ahead, labor nominee has been there before

President Donald Trump and a leading Republican are highlighting a key fact about labor secretary nominee Alexander Acosta: He has been confirmed three times by the Senate. Acosta, who would be the first Hispanic member of Trump's Cabinet, has won confirmation to the National Labor Relations Board, as the head of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division and as U.S. attorney in Miami.

Feds’ disability education website: Still down, still no response

Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., They are asking U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos when a popular website explaining the federal Individuals With Disabilities Act will again be available to the public. It has been down for three weeks, supposedly for technical difficulties.

Gorsuch meets with Democrats

In this Jan. 31, 2017 file photo, Supreme Court Justice nominee Neil Gorsuch speaks in the East Room of the White House in Washington. WASHINGTON -- Republicans and conservative groups stepped up their campaign to secure confirmation of President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee as the federal judge courted two Senate Democrats crucial to his winning a seat on the high court.

Round-the-clock Senate sessions start with DeVos nomination

The Senate will be in session around the clock this week as Republicans aim to confirm more of President Donald Trump's Cabinet picks over Democratic opposition. Democrats intend to drag out the process as much as possible using all the time they can under the Senate's arcane rules.

DeVos clears Senate hurdle toward becoming ed secy

Betsy DeVos's embattled nomination for education secretary cleared another hurdle in the Senate on Friday as Republicans overpowered fierce resistance from Democrats. Senators voted 52-48 to cut off debate in an early-morning session, setting the stage for a final confirmation vote next week on President Donald Trump's nominee.

Repeal of Health Law Could Mean Women Pay More For Less

Consumer Reporter Lynda Baquero helps a Long Island man after he changed his healthcare provider but the bills then came to him! From a return to higher premiums based on gender, to gaps in coverage for birth control and breast pumps, experts say women could end up paying more for less if the Obama-era health care law is repealed. The 2010 law ended a common industry practice of charging women more than men for policies purchased directly from an insurer.

How to Pick a Better Ed. Secretary Than Betsy DeVos

Eight years ago, in this very newspaper, I warned against the appointment of Arne Duncan as President Barack Obama's first education secretary . He sailed through a Democratic-controlled Senate confirmation despite a track record in Chicago's public schools of advancing a corporate-driven agenda to marketize public schools, alongside test-and-punish policies that fractured the most struggling of communities-a harbinger of things to come.

Republicans told to proceed with speed a ” and caution a ” on dismantling Obamacare

Republicans have yet to agree on how they want to replace the Affordable Care Act, but they're hearing that they might not have much time. Insurance companies need some details by the end of March as they develop health coverage packages for 2018, panelists suggested at a Senate hearing on Wednesday.

DeVos may have used official’s remarks without attribution

Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Chairman Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., accompanied by the committee's ranking member Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash. speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017, during the committee's executive session to discuss the nomination of Education Secretary-designate Betsy DeVos.

As the Feds Detained Banned Travelers at Sea-Tac, Local Political…

As chaos unfolded at airports across the country on Saturday, it quickly became clear that officials ranging from frontline border patrol agents to high-ranking members of the administration were unprepared for President Donald Trump's travel ban. In Washington, that turmoil translated to a group of state and federal leaders unable to find answers to questions as basic as how many people were being detained at Sea-Tac International Airport.

Trump’s choice for labor secretary outsourced jobs

President Donald Trump's pick for labor secretary outsourced his fast-food company's technology department to the Philippines, a move that contradicts Trump's vow to keep American jobs in the U.S. Trump has blasted, threatened and tried to charm American companies that have so much as contemplated moving jobs overseas, saying he's sticking up for American workers who aren't feeling the economic recovery and form his political base. But a filing with the Labor Department on CEO Andrew Puzder's company - and a spokesman's acknowledgement that CKE continues to use the IT operation in the Philippines - provides a window into a key contradiction raised by the nomination.

DeVos: Won’t dismantle public schools as education secretary new

In a sometimes contentious confirmation hearing, education secretary pick Betsy DeVos pledged that she would not seek to dismantle public schools amid questions by Democrats about her qualifications, political donations and long-time work advocating for charter schools and school choice. DeVos said she would address "the needs of all parents and students" but that a one-size-fits-all model doesn't work in education.

Why Trump’s pick for Education could face unusually stiff resistance

In this Dec. 9 photo, Betsy DeVos, Donald Trump's nominee for secretary of education, speaks while on stage with the President-elect at a rally in Grand Rapids, Mich. Issues related to DeVos's wealth, power and influence with lawmakers and stance towards teachers unions and the LGBT community swirl around her nomination.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., left,

After debating seven hours through the night, the Senate voted early Thursday to take the first real step toward repealing Obamacare - a top goal of congressional Republicans and President-elect Donald Trump. Obamacare takes first real step closer to repeal after Senate vote After debating seven hours through the night, the Senate voted early Thursday to take the first real step toward repealing Obamacare - a top goal of congressional Republicans and President-elect Donald Trump.

Social media campaign #DearBetsy takes on Trump Education nominee Betsy DeVos

Betsy DeVos, selected for Education Secretary by President-elect Donald Trump speaks during a rally, in Grand Rapids, Mich. Democratic senators on Dec. 14, called DeVos to ensure that a political action committee she controlled pays $5.3 million in fines and penalties owed for campaign finance violations in Ohio eight years ago.

US: Senate Democrats introduce bill to block Trump Muslim registry

On January 5, 2017, nine Democratic senators filed a bill blocking the executive branch from registering people based on religion, race, gender, age, national origin or nationality. "Contrary to the President-elect's beliefs, America's diversity is not a threat - it is, in fact, our greatest strength," Sen. Jeff Merkley was quoted by The Hill as saying.