Why Would Anyone Ask For A $1 Salary?
Betsy DeVos | Photo Credit Democracy Now
Similar to the infamous “Dollar-a-year-men” like Steve Jobs (Apple), Richard Fairbank (Capital One), John F. Kennedy, Elon Musk (Tesla), Eric Schmidt (Google), and Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook), Trump’s pick to head the federal education department confirmed she’ll also accept a $1 salary if confirmed.
Betsy DeVos’s wealth is currently subject of controversy. She’s been grilled by Senate Democrat members of Health, Labor, Education, and Pensions Committee, but she’s responded by admitting that she’s “committed to ensuring that [she] has no conflicts and [that she will] go forward with no conflicts.”
DeVos is an American businesswoman, activist, and philanthropist. As a prominent member in the Republican Party, she’s known for advocating…
Voucher programs and school choice.
Betsy DeVos | Photo Credit New Yorker
Within the world of politics, DeVos personally raised $150,000 for the 2004 campaign to re-elect President Bush. During Bush’s Administration, she spent two years working as the financial chairperson for the National Republican Senatorial Committee and her family has remained involved for decades.
Upon this nomination, DeVos has said, “I am honored to work with the President [Trump] on his vision to make American education great again. That status quo in [education] is not acceptable.”
Background Not Enough For Democrat Stormtroopers
Betsy DeVos | Photo Credit NBC News
Despite her background, the Democrats are not having it. Sen. Tammy Baldwin asked she would take advantages of any tax loopholes if chosen. Specifically, Baldwin said these loopholes could allow for DeVos to “defer capital gains taxes on the sale of assets divested n order to comply with ethics rules.”
DeVos responded, “I do not intend to take advantage of that loophole. I’ve already made that conclusion, that decision, and in fact it probably would be useful to note here and again, if confirmed, I will only take a salary of one dollar so I can be official, but I don’t intend to take a salary either.”
Like her predecessors, the $1 Salary is meant to take authority without taking any of the benefits. It’s often put in place by those individuals who have made their money elsewhere and only wish to serve. DeVos is honorable in this claim despite the many Democratic fingers waving in her face.
Do you agree with Trump’s decision to choose DeVos?
