Today, Vice President Mike Pence broke the 50-50 tie in the Senate to confirm Betsy DeVos as the new Secretary of Education in a historic vote. Her nomination and subsequent confirmation sparked much debate, but not about critical issues related to the cost and quality of college, which went largely untouched beginning with her January 17 hearing.

The reason lies with the incomplete line of questioning and public criticism leading up to Tuesday’s confirmation vote. A handful of evening news sound bites are no substitute for the articulation of meaningful solutions to pressing problems.