Commission on Civil Rights to probe Trump administration's handling of civil rights

[DonViejo]

Source: Politico



By KIMBERLY HEFLING 06/16/2017 12:14 PM EDT

An independent watchdog group on Friday approved an investigation of civil rights enforcement in the Trump administration, saying it has "grave concerns" about signals coming from federal agencies — calling out comments by Education Secretary Betsy DeVos in particular.

The 6-2 vote by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights approving the statement calling for a two-year review followed a dispute between two commissioners over the language that calls out DeVos. That language cites that the Education secretary's "repeated refusal in Congressional testimony and other public statements to commit that the department would enforce federal civil rights laws" is "particularly troubling."

The commission, an independent body authorized by Congress, serves as a watchdog on civil rights issues, but has no authority to force change in the government.

Commissioner Gail Heriot, a political independent and law professor at the University of San Diego, said the line about DeVos was "utterly over the top" and sought unsuccessfully to have it removed.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2017/06/16/commission-civil-rights-trump-betsy-devos-239639

[niyad]

1. orange madman thinks he can do whatever the hell he wants, no matter who he screws over

[elleng]

2. Good to see they approved the 'investigation,'

tho the Commission is and has been a weak vehicle for years.

[Gothmog]

3. This group can do a good job of investigating issues

[BumRushDaShow]

4. Let's hope they can step up to the plate

I remember the long tenure of Mary Frances Berry on the Commission (including as Chair), from Carter through to Shrub.