BATON ROUGE — The Louisiana Senate Thursday night approved 24-0 a resolution inviting newly appointed U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos to visit Louisiana public schools. 
Some Senators were apprehensive about the potential connotations of inviting DeVos, whose appointment has raised controversy for, among other things, her keen support of charter and for-profit private schools over traditional public schools. 
Just prior to the vote, Sen. Karen Carter Peterson, D-New Orleans, asked to take a “quick look” at the resolution to ensure it did not include “accolades that may not be worthy” for DeVos. 
“Is it to ask her to come speak to schools or is it commending her for all the great work that she might have done that I’m not aware of?” Peterson inquired. 
Sen. Mike Walsworth, R-West Monroe, assured Peterson that resolution only invited DeVos to visit and did not include any commendation. 
“It would be good for her to come to Louisiana,” Walsworth said. “We could use some help.” 
Sen. Sharon Hewitt, R-Chalmette, said after the session adjourned that any time a national public official visits Louisiana it is “a good thing.”  
Thursday marked the fourth day of the state’s third special legislative session in 12 months, this one called by the governor to address a $304 million mid-year deficit. The session has until midnight Wednesday for find a solution.