washington billionaire philanthropist betsy devos already know one controversial nominees education secretary u.s. history risk rare congressional rejection deeply divide u.s. senate health education labor pension committee tuesday agree send nomination full chamber vote final step confirmation process committee executive session show devos face choppy water ahead post typically little congressional debate public attention chairman republican lamar alexander act tie-breaker 11 republicans vote republican president donald trump pick 11 democrats vote two republicans maine susan collins alaska lisa murkowski express grave misgive charter school advocate limit experience public school say vote yes entire senate debate whether devos right fit murkowski say may support devos senate vote democrats say nomination rush devos provide answer describe vague noncommittal hundreds write question 24 hours vote many trump nominees sail confirmations recent weeks name currently senate meet resistance senate 48 democrats need pull three republicans side reject devos nomination nine nominees ever turn senate public opposition devos unusually fierce say mary kusler lobbyist national education association large union say constituents send million email place 40,000 call senators decry nomination big public outcry education secretary kusler see career 20 years add nea american federation teachers another major union say keep anti-devos fight senate vote expect voters also maintain pressure public opinion devos wobble jan. 17 hear suggest allow gun rural school fend bear attack two rally tuesday chicago several hundred protesters gather demonstrate devos nomination one child school son school little year say chicago resident mara tierney attend rally 3-year-old boy want ensure devos confirm old-guard republicans like former first lady barbara bush defend devos lifelong champion low-income children literacy give parent choice education democrats meanwhile blast nominee support privatization ways say hurt poor students understand basic education laws issue court potential conflict interest investments trump 's embattle education department pick may face senate fight