The Enquirer

The Congressman representing Northern Kentucky wants to abolish the U.S. Department of Education.

Rep. Thomas Massie, a Garrison Republican, introduced his bill Tuesday. The full text: “The Department of Education shall terminate on December 31, 2018.”

"Unelected bureaucrats in Washington, D.C. should not be in charge of our children’s intellectual and moral development," Massie said in a statement.

Republicans have proposed abolishing the department since it was created under President Jimmy Carter. The Senate Tuesday confirmed Betsy DeVos as President Trump's new Education Secretary, and Republicans seem to be in no rush to dismantle the agency.

"These agencies have a role to play and they should not be eliminated," Ohio Sen. Rob Portman told reporters Tuesday, speaking about the Department of Education and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Massie is something of a maverick. He was the lone Republican this year to vote against confirming Rep. Paul Ryan as House Speaker. He's also pushed for the U.S. to leave the United Nations.

Deirdre Shesgreen contributed