Philly.com – Kevin Frecking
“President Barack Obama will nominate Dr. John B. King Jr. to serve as Education Department secretary after receiving commitments from lawmakers to give his nomination speedy consideration, the White House said Thursday. King has served as acting secretary since Arne Duncan stepped down at the end of December. Facing strong Republican opposition to many of Obama’s nominees in the Senate, the White House opted to skip the potential clash over education policies and said it didn’t intend to nominate another candidate. But Sen. Lamar Alexander, the Republican chairman of the panel with jurisdiction over education, said that King will receive a “prompt and fair hearing in our committee.” King’s selection could move ahead as Congress wants to see a new education law covering elementary and secondary education implemented. The legislation passed with strong bipartisan support last year.”(more)