Several published reports this week indicated there would be a tied confirmation vote for Betsy DeVos, President Donald Trump's nominee for secretary of Education, but White House press secretary Sean Spicer told Newsmax's John Gizzi on Friday the administration feels "100 percent confident" she will be confirmed in full Monday.
"I think we're going to make sure we do everything we can, and we feel 100 percent confident she will be confirmed Monday night to be that next secretary of education," Spicer told Gizzi, after the Newsmax political reporter asked him during Friday's press if Vice President Mike Pence is expected to be called upon to cast a tie-breaking vote.
"Should we be watching for any surprises?" asked Gizzi, in the last question of Friday's White House press briefing. "Has the Congressional Affairs Office got one more vote from the no camp, or do you expect the vice president to be on hand to confirm her?"
Spicer described DeVos as an "unbelievable champion of education for children, teachers, parents, and he hopes she will get at least 60 or 70 Senate votes."
"She is an unbelievable, remarkable woman who has fought very hard to improve our nation's education system and to make sure schools are serving children," Spicer told Gizzi.
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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