During her confirmation hearings, Betsy DeVos pledged not to make political contributions while she was Secretary of Education.
But, knowing her penchant for parsing words, we may now assume that she was not covering the political donations of her family, which continue.
This latest review of political donations by Ulrich Boser and Perpetual Baffour of the Center for American Progress shows that the DeVos family gave $2 Million to far-right candidates.
My hunch is that they gave far more than $2 million, through Dark Money PACs that do not disclose the names of their donors.
The report finds:
“Even by the loose standards of U.S. campaign finance laws—and President Donald Trump’s blatant corruption—the donations by the family members of a Cabinet official have been brazen. In February 2018, Richard DeVos, Secretary DeVos’ father-in-law, gave $1 million to the Freedom Partners Action Fund—a political action fund that has long been associated with far-right causes. Over the past year, the DeVos family has also given $350,000 to the Republican Congressional Leadership Fund and another $400,000 to the Republican National Committee.
“The DeVoses have also donated to specific candidates for federal and state office. Wisconsin’s far-right firebrand, Gov. Scott Walker (R), for example, has received more than $635,000 over the past decade from the DeVos family—including $30,000 in 2018. Bill Schuette, Michigan’s Republican attorney general who is running for governor, received almost $40,000 over the past year.
“But it seems that the state of Arizona is of particular interest to the DeVos family’s political agenda. Rep. Martha McSally (R), who is in a tight race for a U.S. Senate seat, landed $54,000 in contributions from the family this cycle—more than any other U.S. Senate candidate received from the DeVoses. Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R) has likewise received more in campaign contributions from the DeVos family than any gubernatorial candidate across the country this election cycle, raking in $50,500 in donations.”
In Wisconsin, a vote for Scott Walker is a vote for Betsy DeVos.
In Michigan, a vote for Bill Schuette is a vote for Betsy DeVos.
In Arizona, a vote for Martha McSally is a vote for Betsy DeVos.
A vote for these candidates is a vote for charter schools and vouchers.
A vote for these candidates is a vote to privatize public schools.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Tennessee too
Well it doesn’t seem to be working in her home state of Michigan, where voters seem to be ready to boot every ed reformer from office.
Maybe she should plow more campaign funds in- they don’t seem to be buying her song and dance even in Michigan, and they know her better than anyone.
Not a moment to soon, either. If they remain in power Michigan will continue to decline in state rankings on quality of public education. She hurt that state. It’s all cheap, gimmicky garbage.
It would probably be better to list the good none corrupt things this administration does v the corrupt things. That would make it a very short list. I don’t believe they’re done anything that’s actually legal AKA corrupt.
It just amazes me how easy it is to get promoted in ed reform. DeVos speaks in slogans. It is the most vapid, meaningless gibberish imaginable and yet she’s been their top lobbyist for 30 years. Go read any of her speeches. It is a collection of ed reform slogans – over and over and over.
It really makes one wonder about the quality of our legislators if they find this drivel persuasive. How smart can THEY be if they’re taking direction from DeVos?
I also think it’s terrible for our kids to see these really mediocre people promoted simply because they are wealthy.
What does that say to them? It says “merit doesn’t matter, and you should arrange to be born wealthy”
Can they not find a single self-made person to speak to schoolchildren in all of DC? Ivanka Trump isn’t a symbol of anything other than nepotism and the advantages of being born wealthy. What kind of message does this send?
They searched everywhere at the US Department of Education and they BEST they could come up with on vocational education was Ivanka Trump? It’s insulting to the students.
“Happening at @usedgov on 11/14: a one-day workshop for teachers and schools on adding global competencies to career, technical, and STEM education programs! ”
Who is teaching this? The heirs to the Amway fortune or the heirs to the Trump NYC real estate? I mean, come on. I know they have utter contempt for public schools and since the vast majority of us attended one they also have contempt for us, but can’t they rustle up anyone who actually accomplished something instead of inheriting it?
I know John King wasn’t popular here but he did at least have some commonality of experience with the vast, vast majority of the people he served. These people may as well live in another country. They better be learning yacht maintenance and repair if DeVos is leading this.
This shouldn’t surprise anyone since the Trump administration is built on a flimsy foundation made of lies shakier than a house of cards.
The Trump slogan is tell them what you think they want to hear so they are fooled, and then do whatever you have to do to make money no matter what and win at any cost.
This is Trump thinking: “If anyone gets in my way, run them over with your hate/fear filled tank of lies.”
Under our laws, people have the right to contribute to political campaigns.
She pledged not to.
Cabinet members by custom do not do anything overtly political
In this sick administration, customs, mores, ethics and laws are disregsrded
Well said, Diane.
It appears as though Devos is doing anything she wants right now. You can see a strategy change in her position of sec of ed. When Devos first started the job she was visible making rounds all over the country but this turned out miserable ending with the 60 minutes debacle.
Keen observers can now note that since that interview on 60 minutes, Devos has not been in the spot light but rather behind the scene. The scary part to me is that it appears she is doing any thing she wants such as giving away millions of tax payer monies for charter schools around the country, changing protection laws for students and student loans, sexual predator protections…..hmnnn yet no public disclosure of any of these moves only reported in the news after the fact.
Simply put, Betsy Devos has balls like I’ve never scene and I guess she feels she can get away with anything cause the money is there in the donations to the GOP. She remains on Trumps cabinet although many others have fled. Devos keeps going with gaul and hypocrisy like I’ve never scene before.
You are right.
She is doing her dirty work without publicity.
$399 million for new charters
Trans defined out of existence
Special ed violations ignored
Rape on campus ok unless there are two witnesses
Deplorable. Evil. Greedy. Plain sick. And her smirk. Glad she’s not my mother.