La. senator brings up mayonnaise during education hearing

Deborah Barfield Berry | USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — Republican and Democratic senators grilled Education Secretary Betsy DeVos Tuesday about a range of topics, including concerns about the lack of charter schools in rural communities. And one Republican used some of his time to talk about mayonnaise.

Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana asked about more options for younger students, conjuring up an image of a grocery store shelf full of mayo.

“Now I can go down to my overpriced Capitol Hill grocery this afternoon and choose among about six different types of mayonnaise,” he said. “How come I can’t do that for my kid?"

DeVos testified Tuesday about the administration’s proposed education budget before the Appropriations subcommittee on Labor, Health, and Human Service, Education and Related Agencies. DeVos, a supporter of school choice, said the budget proposal would give parents more power and students more opportunity. She said the administration hopes to make education in America "the envy of the world."

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Kennedy, a member of the committee, said the problem isn’t in higher education, but elementary and secondary education.

“We can’t seem to teach our kids how to read and write and do basic math when we’ve got 18 years to do it,’’ he said. “I don’t understand that…I don’t care what the political cost is. I’m willing to try just about anything to improve public elementary and secondary education, including vouchers, including school choice, including charter schools.”

But Sen. Chris Murphy, a Democrat from Connecticut, took issue with what he considered Kennedy’s comparison of education to mayonnaise.

“With all due respect to my colleague from Louisiana — education is not mayonnaise,'' he said. "Frankly, the day we start treating the education of our children like the marketing of our condiments is the day we have given up on our kids."

His retort was missed, though; Kennedy had already left the committee room.

Later, when asked, Kennedy said his point was children don’t have a choice in second and elementary education.

“The whole idea of charter schools and vouchers is to give parents a choice in addition to public schools," he said.

He was not comparing education to mayonnaise, he said.

“I wasn’t and I think he knows I wasn’t," he said of Murphy.

In another exchange during the hearing, Kennedy reminded DeVos, who has made some controversial remarks, that she wasn't so well liked.

“You’re aware, I’m sure, that some people don’t like you because you support vouchers and charter schools," he said.

“I’m peripherally aware of that, yes,’’ DeVos said to laughter from the packed room.

Follow Deborah Barfield Berry on Twitter: @dberrygannett