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Mich. Senator Stabenow opposes Betsy DeVos for Education Department head

Posted at 9:08 AM, Jan 06, 2017
and last updated 2017-01-06 09:08:52-05

DETROIT (AP) — U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow says she will vote against Betty DeVos as the next head of the U.S. Education Department.

The Michigan Democrat says she talked to DeVos. Stabenow says DeVos’ support for charter schools has “seriously undermined public education” in the state.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI - DECEMBER 9: (L to R) President-elect Donald Trump looks on as Betsy DeVos, his nominee for Secretary of Education, speaks at the DeltaPlex Arena, December 9, 2016 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. President-elect Donald Trump is continuing his victory tour across the country. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – DECEMBER 9: (L to R) President-elect Donald Trump looks on as Betsy DeVos, his nominee for Secretary of Education, speaks at the DeltaPlex Arena, December 9, 2016 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. President-elect Donald Trump is continuing his victory tour across the country. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

DeVos, the former head of the Michigan Republican Party, is in favor of giving parents more education options. Her husband, Dick DeVos, started a charter high school in the Grand Rapids area that focuses on aviation and engineering.

The U.S. Senate will hold a confirmation hearing for DeVos on Wednesday.

Ed Patru, a spokesman for a group called Friends of Betsy DeVos, tells the Detroit Free Press that Stabenow and DeVos still can find “common ground” on education issues.