SECONDNEXUS
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Education Secretary Betsy DeVos shocked the nation when she attempted to defend proposed budget cuts that would strip the Special Olympics of federal funding as well as slashing funding for special education programs.
Though GOP lawmakers have assured they will not cut the funding, it didn't stop DeVos from defending the decision, by claiming to value special education and the Special Olympics.
After criticism from Democrats on a Senate Appropriations subcommittee on education, DeVos said:
"I love Special Olympics myself. I have given a portion of my salary to Special Olympics. I hope all of this debate inspires private contributions to Special Olympics. Let’s not use disabled children in a twisted way for your political narrative, that is just disgusting and shameful and I think we should move on from that."
But for Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the assurance was hollow. Not only did Ocasio-Cortez call DeVos out for her Special Olympics proposal, but also for past decisions, like making it harder for sexual assault victims on college campuses to get justice and cutting student loan forgiveness.
Betsy DeVos “loves” the Special Olympics so much, she wants to cut federal funding for it. She “loves” students so… https://t.co/VgSvKTpdXl— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) 1553804303.0
Others felt the same.
@thehill Isn't the "political narrative" she's describing...um...her actually slashing the Special Olympics budget?… https://t.co/eF5sfKMRKf— Nick Garcia (@Nick Garcia) 1553804168.0
@thehill Lol "I cut their funding, gee I hope the taxpayers, whos money I already blew on low performimg corporate… https://t.co/Yt7t6Sh1VJ— Jeremy Ross (@Jeremy Ross) 1553804336.0
Many pointed out other places cuts could have been made, highlighting just how reckless the spending of Trump's administration is, as well as the wealth of its officials.
!!! Five Trump trips to Mar-a-Lago would cover Betsy Devos’s proposed Special Olympics cuts https://t.co/D6fpF50MB9— Amy Klobuchar (@Amy Klobuchar) 1553736492.0
@thehill That’s great news. She can easily afford to donate the $17M of gov’t funding she’s proposing to strip from them.— Alison Zilzer (@Alison Zilzer) 1553803664.0
Betsy DeVos owns a $40 million yacht. She could sell it and fund the Special Olympics and she wouldn’t even be out of yachts.— Jennifer Wright (@Jennifer Wright) 1553740396.0
They say they are saving 18 million dollars by cutting funding money for special Olympics. Just look how much we co… https://t.co/tm5ahxn9K8— tm soderberg (@tm soderberg) 1553778125.0
The cuts are unlikely to be enacted, but we should be questioning why they were proposed in the first place.