WASHINGTON — The Senate begins deliberations today on Education Secretary nominee Betsy DeVos, whose confirmation is likely to require a tie-breaking vote by Vice President Mike Pence.

The final vote is shaping up as 50-50, with all Democrats unified in opposition along with two of the 52 Republicans – Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska.

Pence predicted Sunday he’ll be needed to push DeVos over the finish line.

“I’m going to be called on … for the first time in American history as vice president to cast the deciding tie-breaking vote for a cabinet nominee,” Pence told “Fox News Sunday.”

He blamed the close vote on Democratic “obstruction.”

“We are very confident that Betsy DeVos is going to be the secretary of education,” Pence added. “It would be my high honor to cast the deciding tie-breaking vote on the floor of the Senate.”

Opposition to DeVos has been fierce, with senators reporting their phone lines jammed with calls from liberals and teachers’ unions. Opponents view DeVos’s pro-charter school, pro-school voucher and pro-Christian school advocacy as a threat to public education.

Supporters say she’s just the person needed to disrupt the education system and focus more on what’s best for children and parents, rather than maintaining a federal bureaucracy. She’s getting an assist from former Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal’s America Next conservative group which has been running TV ads in her favor.

“DeVos believes in giving families a choice, charter schools, online schools, parochial schools and outstanding public schools, Betsy DeVos will fight for equal opportunity in education for everyone,” the 30-second ad says.

The final vote is expected Tuesday.

Our editors found this article on this site using Google and regenerated it for our readers.