Senate to vote on Hanna Skandera

From KOB-TV.com - by Jen Samp, KOB Eyewitness News 4 - Governor Susana Martinez handpicked Hanna Skandera and ever since has been by her side. Three times now, the senate has failed to take a vote, which would officially confirm Skandera as the education secretary.
     Skandera self-proclaimed the title "education secretary” on her official website, the governor gave her the title “Secretary-Designate” until she is confirmed. “I think we need to have a vote and I think we should have had one before now", said Democratic State Senator and majority whip Tim Keller
     He argues Skandera is not credentialed for the big job. She worked as a senior policy adviser to the U.S Education Secretary and was a deputy commissioner for Florida's education system, but she has never been a teacher.“Our constitution says clearly you need a qualified educator and for better or worse regardless of her ideas I don't believe she meets the criteria,” said Sen. Keller.

     A statement from the Department of Education reads: “Secretary Skandera has broad support from education leaders and business leaders throughout New Mexico. She is well-qualified for a position she has held for three years now and if she wasn’t, the senate would have taken action long ago. Last year, Senator Lopez staged a politically motivated and prolonged political circus at taxpayer expense that did nothing to help improve student achievement in New Mexico. Secretary Skandera looks forward to a fair confirmation process.”
     Last year, the confirmation hearing on Skandera lasted for hours. Political insiders think if the Senate takes a vote, she would get the confirmation. But political games are not new to the Roundhouse. More

Senate to vote on Hanna Skandera