Trump's postmaster general pauses service cuts after mail-in ballots outcry

[webfact]

Trump's postmaster general pauses service cuts after mail-in ballots outcry

By David Shepardson

 

The logo on a United States Postal Service (USPS) mailbox is pictured in Pasadena, California, U.S., August 17, 2020. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy on Tuesday suspended all mail service changes until after the November election, bowing to an outcry by Democrats that the moves appeared to be an attempt to boost President Donald Trump's re-election chances.

 

The reversal follows complaints that the cuts could slow the handling of mail-in ballots, which could account for as many as half of all votes cast in November's election as the coronavirus pandemic raises fears of crowds.

 

Critics have accused the Republican president, trailing Democratic challenger Joe Biden in opinion polls, of trying to hobble the Postal Service to suppress mail-in voting.

 

Trump has repeatedly and without evidence claimed that an increase in mail-in ballots would lead to a surge in fraud, though Americans have long voted by mail.

 

Planned changes to the mail service that threatened to slow mail delivery - and in some cases, already have - include reductions in overtime, restrictions on extra mail transportation trips, and new mail sorting and delivery policies, enacted in an attempt to cut costs.

 

"I am suspending these initiatives until after the election is concluded," DeJoy said in a statement, adding that the changes are to "avoid even the appearance of any impact on election mail."

 

Reuters reported news of the suspension first on Tuesday.

 

DeJoy, a major political donor and ally of Trump, assumed the job in June.

 

He has faced pressure from multiple tiers of government, with the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives planning a rare Saturday session to pass a bill blocking cuts, and several states preparing lawsuits to block the maneuvers.

 

Trump said last week he was against Democratic efforts to include funds for the Postal Service and election infrastructure in coronavirus relief legislation because he wanted to limit mail-in voting during the pandemic.

 

The president kept up his attack on mail voting on Tuesday, speculating that delayed results could mean that the Nov. 3 election would need to be held a second time.

 

"It will end up being a rigged election or they will never come out with an outcome," Trump told reporters on Tuesday. "They'll have to do it again, and nobody wants that."

 

One in four ballots in 2016 were cast by mail and Trump himself votes that way.

 

'HE GOT CAUGHT'

Multiple Democrats and union officials welcomed the news but said they were holding out for proof that DeJoy would take the actions he promised.

 

"I think he got caught. The pressure from the public and the unions made a difference," said Scott Adams, president of the American Postal Workers Union unit for southern Maine, which represents about 550 postal workers. "He only backed off because of the pressure for the vote by mail and the connections they pointed out between him and Trump."

 

Adams pointed out that DeJoy is not rolling back his decision to fire many senior Postal Service managers and change its internal organizational structure, which could have longer lasting impacts.

 

Earlier on Tuesday, states including Washington, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and New York said they were planning legal moves to block the Postal Service changes.

 

Connecticut Attorney General William Tong asked what would happen to the cuts that have already taken place.

 

"Stopping further harm is not enough. #USPS needs to reverse previous changes too," Tong said on Twitter.

 

Several congressional Republicans this week had dismissed Democrats' concerns as a political attack on Trump.

 

MAIL BOXES TO REMAIN IN PLACE

DeJoy also said that the Postal Service will not change retail hours at post offices, that mail collection boxes will remain where they are, and that no mail processing facilities will be closed.

 

The reversal followed a lengthy call by the postal board of governors on Monday night, two people briefed on the matter said. They said the board told DeJoy to only focus on election integrity between now and election day, not operational changes.

 

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Tuesday said she would go ahead with plans to pass a bill that would prevent the post office from reducing service levels below what they were in January.

 

DeJoy is scheduled to testify on Friday before the Republican-led Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, spokesmen for the committee and the Postal Service said. DeJoy also is scheduled to testify on Monday before the Democratic-led House Oversight and Reform Committee.

 

(Reporting by David Shepardson, additional reporting by Andy Sullivan, Tom Hals, Karen Freifeld, Jonathan Stempel and David Morgan; Editing by Scott Malone, Will Dunham and Rosalba O'Brien)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-08-19

 

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[pegman]

The Trumpian backflips just keep on piling up. 

[Tug]

This is a bit of good news but we must monitor this to make sure It isent a lie delaying tactic 

[Somtamnication]

The corruption in this administration is so out in the open, it is truly amazing, and yet he is head to head in the polls (latest CNN poll -+ 4 points) and people love this guy. Surreal.

[OneMoreFarang]

In any half decent country it wouldn't be possible for the leader to put an incompetent guy in that position just because he is a big donor.

And in any country which calls itself democracy nobody wants to make if difficult to vote for the people. As we all know the whole idea about democracy is the voting. Will anybody explain that to Americans please. Especially the GOP politicians seem to have no problem with suppressed votes but somehow they still pretend to represent the people. The USA is a failed country.

[OneMoreFarang]

55 minutes ago, pegman said:

The Trumpian backflips just keep on piling up. 

Trump didn't backflip. He still does not want that DEM voters are allowed to vote. 

[Tug]

9 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

In any half decent country it wouldn't be possible for the leader to put an incompetent guy in that position just because he is a big donor.

And in any country which calls itself democracy nobody wants to make if difficult to vote for the people. As we all know the whole idea about democracy is the voting. Will anybody explain that to Americans please. Especially the GOP politicians seem to have no problem with suppressed votes but somehow they still pretend to represent the people. The USA is a failed country.

Sir I take umbrage at that USA is a failed country we do have to get our government out of the hands of this wanna be tyrant and we are fighting to do just that don’t sell us short

Edited August 19, 2020 by Tug

[CrunchWrapSupreme]

Hah. It's damn obvious what happened, to anyone with a pulse.

1) Trump's good buddy, hardcore Republican and high dollar donor, was appointed Postmaster General.

2) Oh no, there suddenly needs to be big Postal Service budget cuts. Cut their hours and pull the mailboxes.

3) Oh no, there's possibly rampant voter fraud. Something should be done about voting by mail.

4) But wait, isn't there still this Corona thing, and people shouldn't be going out to the polls? Doesn't it make perfect sense for them to vote by mail? Well, that's too bad.

5) But wait, isn't Trump suffering a serious drop in the polls, due to his handling of Corona, among other things? Wouldn't many Americans want to voice their opinion about this in the election? Well, that's too bad.

 

And we thought this sort of thing only went on in Thailand.

Edited August 19, 2020 by CrunchWrapSupreme

[Roadman]

33 minutes ago, Somtamnication said:

The corruption in this administration is so out in the open, it is truly amazing, and yet he is head to head in the polls (latest CNN poll -+ 4 points) and people love this guy. Surreal.

He is only head to head in the economy. In all other measures like direction of country, foreign policy and Covid management he is being slaughtered. Put the average of it all together across all pollsters averaged and he is sitting at and has been around for a while a disapproval ratio of 11.3%. 

Edited August 19, 2020 by Roadman

[Srikcir]

26 minutes ago, Boon Mee said:

Trump is absolutely correct in calling attention to the cheat-by-mail the Democrats are advocating. Ballot harvesting is not what the founders of the Republic had in mind when they sought to form a more perfect union. 

2019:

Republican political operative Leslie Dowless arrested in North Carolina congressional race in 'ballot harvesting case. https://latimer.com/nation/la-na-nc-election-fraud-charge-20190227-story.html

Got a cite for Democrat ballot harvesting?

[Emdog]

34 minutes ago, Boon Mee said:

Trump is absolutely correct in calling attention to the cheat-by-mail the Democrats are advocating. Ballot harvesting is not what the founders of the Republic had in mind when they sought to form a more perfect union. 

Do you ever deal with facts, reality? The only ballot harvesting that has happened was by Republicans in NC

Voting by mail leaves a paper trail, which puts them ahead of voting machines

Voting by mail has been happening since the American Civil War. Ever hear about that one?

[OneMoreFarang]

1 hour ago, Tug said:

Sir I take umbrage at that USA is a failed country we do have to get our government out of the hands of this wanna be tyrant and we are fighting to do just that don’t sell us short

I know some are fighting. But it seems the whole GOP is perfectly ok with everything Trump does. Breaking laws constantly, lying constantly, and now sabotaging the democratic election. What must happen to somehow convince these GOP politicians to dump that idiot? And then there are the roughly 60 million Americans who can't get enough of Trump. Morons!

[mtls2005]

Sounds like dejoy consulted private legal counsel and was told he has some exposure.

 

He can't back-pedal fast enough.

 

Jared, turn on the pardon machine.

 

How will people receive their Oleandrin from mypillow.com?

 

 

 

 

[cooked]

1 hour ago, CrunchWrapSupreme said:

Hah. It's damn obvious what happened, to anyone with a pulse.) Oh no, there's possibly rampant voter fraud. Something should be done about voting by mail.

4) But wait, isn't there still this Corona thing, and people shouldn't be going out to the polls? Doesn't it make perfect sense for them to vote by mail? Well, that's too bad.

5) But wait, isn't Trump suffering a serious drop in the polls, due to his handling of Corona, among other things? Wouldn't many Americans want to voice their opinion about this in the election? Well, that's too bad.

 

 

Oh dear, depends on which news source you read. Fauci himself said that voting in the traditional fashion wouldn't be a problem. 

Trump is increasing his advantage in the polls and if anyone is to blame for the handling of the epidemic it's his advisors, many of whom are Obama leftovers. 

The removal of mail boxes that contain less on average, than 25 letters a week was decided on long ago, somebody took a foto of the guys doing their job and blew it up. Postal voting leads to fraud, indeniable. 20% of New Jersey Primary votes were refused, and a large percentage went missing.

[TigerandDog]

If trump is so worried about mail-in voting fraud, WHY hasn't he mandated that online voting be implemented. Login-in to your electoral district, check your name off on the electoral roll and then cast your vote. Once name is marked off the electoral roll impossible to vote multiple times. No fraud involved. Trump is accusing the Dems of trying to rig the election when HE is the one actually trying to rig the election. trump is the WORST president EVER. He is a pathological liar & corrupt. Karma will get this SOB when he is no longer president and he and his cronies are gonna be spending quite a long time behind bars.

[riclag]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

MAIL BOXES TO REMAIN IN PLACE

DeJoy also said that the Postal Service will not change retail hours at post offices, that mail collection boxes will remain where they are, and that no mail processing facilities will be closed.

With the potential confusion for some states due to mail in ballots the optics  are a concern!

"Connecticut is using about 200 drop boxes for the first time in its primary Tuesday. Secretary of State Denise Merrill admitted the state was somewhat overwhelmed by a surge in requests for mail-in ballots. She said election offices were still trying to fill those requests a week before the election, leaving little time for voters to fill them in and send them back in the mail".

https://www.npr.org/2020/08/11/901066396/ballot-drop-boxes-become-latest-front-in-voting-legal-fights

 

Personally ! I use to enjoy going to the polls!

If it ever happened  that I couldn't make it to  the polls when I lived in  the states,I would stay clear of these outside mail receptacles,collection postal boxes!

I'd go directly to inside the post office especially with all the vandalism going around now ! 

https://about.usps.com/news/state-releases/mi/2010/mi_2010_0715.htm

 

https://www.koin.com/news/usps-responds-to-viral-photo-of-mailboxes-removed-in-portland/

 

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/usps-mailboxes-removed-oregon/

 

https://abc7.com/usps-burbank-mailboxes-locked-mail-in-voting/6373953/

https://www.eastvaleca.gov/government/law-enforcement-s

 

 

 

 

 

 

[wwest5829]

2 hours ago, Boon Mee said:

Trump is absolutely correct in calling attention to the cheat-by-mail the Democrats are advocating. Ballot harvesting is not what the founders of the Republic had in mind when they sought to form a more perfect union. 

Your twist on US history is interesting ... being so far off base. I suggest your not speaking for what the “founders” had in mind ... The Donald’s reply to being called to task for lack of any documention on voter fraud? Well, you can’t prove it could not happen ... brilliant ...

Edited August 19, 2020 by wwest5829

[riclag]

1 hour ago, TigerandDog said:

If trump is so worried about mail-in voting fraud, WHY hasn't he mandated that online voting be implemented. Login-in to your electoral district, check your name off on the electoral roll and then cast your vote. Once name is marked off the electoral roll impossible to vote multiple times. No fraud involved. Trump is accusing the Dems of trying to rig the election when HE is the one actually trying to rig the election. trump is the WORST president EVER. He is a pathological liar & corrupt. Karma will get this SOB when he is no longer president and he and his cronies are gonna be spending quite a long time behind bars.

Online voting ! IMOP leaves room for to much controversy ! Its this very thought  that after election the politics of counting the vote could be a disaster !

"Some states have embraced online voting. It's a huge risk.

People’s phones, tablets and computers are vulnerable to hackers. Securing the internet could take a decade or more. But some states are plowing ahead anyway".

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/06/08/online-voting-304013

 

Edited August 19, 2020 by riclag

[JCauto]

1 hour ago, cooked said:

Oh dear, depends on which news source you read. Fauci himself said that voting in the traditional fashion wouldn't be a problem. 

Trump is increasing his advantage in the polls and if anyone is to blame for the handling of the epidemic it's his advisors, many of whom are Obama leftovers. 

The removal of mail boxes that contain less on average, than 25 letters a week was decided on long ago, somebody took a foto of the guys doing their job and blew it up. Postal voting leads to fraud, indeniable. 20% of New Jersey Primary votes were refused, and a large percentage went missing.

Well, as this is "indeniable" (you may wish to consult a dictionary the next time you deal with those pesky multi-syllabic words) you obviously have a well-sourced and published link from a verified credible site. Would you mind posting it so that we can assess the evidence?

And in case you are trying to post a link to the voices in your head, I'd suggest that you consult your IT department first, they may have some medication for that.

[JCauto]

6 minutes ago, riclag said:

Online voting ! IMOP leaves room for to much controversy 

"Some states have embraced online voting. It's a huge risk.

People’s phones, tablets and computers are vulnerable to hackers. Securing the internet could take a decade or more. But some states are plowing ahead anyway".

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/06/08/online-voting-304013

 

Hey riclag - have you heard of this new thing called "cryptocurrency"? It's a crazy idea, but you basically convert your money from dollars or whatever other currency you have into digital currency that is secured via the Blockchain. Did you know that billions of dollars have been converted into this digital currency? I know! Amazing! How could people be so gullible as to put billions of dollars worth of money into something insecure and unproven like digital infrastructure that's vulnerable to hackers.

As you guessed, everyone who did this lost their shirts because the hackers stole all the money, now Bitcoin and the other cryptocurrencies are worthless. You were right again!

[spidermike007]

What Trump did, by posting this guy was an abomination, and absolute proof there is NOTHING he will not do, no depth to which he will not stoop, no crime he will not commit, to win this next election. That is just who, and what he is. 

 

And even with all of that gangster stuff, he will lose badly. Pack your bags Don. The world is in to you. Go home to your crumbling mini empire. 

[bendejo]

but but but the cut in postal service is just a conspiracy theory, right?

Or so says that fountain of truth known as Fox News

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/mccarthy-reacts-pelosi-calling-members-back-postal-service

 

People dying from a hoax, now PMG cuts back on something that is a hoax, what the...???

We need to know what the meaning of "hoax" is in Republican education.

 

It may be later rather than sooner, but the GOP is going to have to wear the disgrace of this charlatan and his enablers for a long time to come.

 

 

 

 

Edited August 19, 2020 by bendejo

[rcummings]

2 hours ago, cooked said:

Oh dear, depends on which news source you read. Fauci himself said that voting in the traditional fashion wouldn't be a problem. 

Trump is increasing his advantage in the polls and if anyone is to blame for the handling of the epidemic it's his advisors, many of whom are Obama leftovers. 

The removal of mail boxes that contain less on average, than 25 letters a week was decided on long ago, somebody took a foto of the guys doing their job and blew it up. Postal voting leads to fraud, indeniable. 20% of New Jersey Primary votes were refused, and a large percentage went missing.

He said it wouldn't be a problem if all the recommended precautions are observed. Not the same thing.

In what polls is Trump increasing his advantage? For that matter, in what polls does Trump have an advantage? Not even Rasmussen's polling shows that.

[mtls2005]

10 minutes ago, bendejo said:

People dying from a hoax

 

And other things no doubt....if Russian bounties don't get them, we'll figure out another way to screw our Veterans. (forgetting for a moment the ~ 20 suicides daily).

 

 

As USPS delays hit veterans' mail-order prescriptions, VA works to mitigate medication waits

 

VA's mail-order pharmacy system processes nearly half a million prescriptions daily and each working day, more than 330,000 veterans receive a package of prescriptions in the mail. Veterans who live further from VA medical facilities, especially in rural and remote areas of the country, often depend on mail-order prescriptions.

 

https://connectingvets.radio.com/articles/usps-delays-veteran-prescriptions-va-working-on-solutions

 

 

I guess the VA is looking at alternatives. Will mr. dejoy's logisitics firms get the business.

 

 

[ballpoint]

2 hours ago, cooked said:

Trump is increasing his advantage in the polls and if anyone is to blame for the handling of the epidemic it's his advisors, many of whom are Obama leftovers.

Someone better tell Trump that Obama's advisors are dressing up as him and giving briefings in the White House, where they are continually sticking their feet in his mouth.

[bendejo]

54 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

I guess the VA is looking at alternatives. Will mr. dejoy's logisitics firms get the business.

This was the soul and bones of the Tea Party movement.

"The government should not be in the [name service here] business!"

And the predicate, spoken in a softer voice, is "and I know just the person who should take it over."  Much like the way the former Soviet Union turned into an oligarchy.

 

 

[Scott]

Off-topic post removed. 

 

[cooked]

23 hours ago, JCauto said:

Well, as this is "indeniable" (you may wish to consult a dictionary the next time you deal with those pesky multi-syllabic words) you obviously have a well-sourced and published link from a verified credible site. Would you mind posting it so that we can assess the evidence?

And in case you are trying to post a link to the voices in your head, I'd suggest that you consult your IT department first, they may have some medication for that.

Yes you're quite right of course, I was doing business in French for too long, sometimes I do get words mixed up. Really sorry about that.

This is typical of the way many arguments these days: don't stick to the point being made, just insult the messenger.

There's this:

WE   think you're wrong.

YOU  think we're stupid and / or evil.

A lack of a sense of humour seems to be involved also, but that's REALLY avoiding the subject at hand, as I'm sure you'll agree.

[cooked]

23 hours ago, ballpoint said:

Someone better tell Trump that Obama's advisors are dressing up as him and giving briefings in the White House, where they are continually sticking their feet in his mouth.

What? He follows their advice. If he didn't, would you support him?

[Tie Dye Samurai]

On 8/18/2020 at 8:03 PM, Boon Mee said:

Trump is absolutely correct in calling attention to the cheat-by-mail the Democrats are advocating. Ballot harvesting is not what the founders of the Republic had in mind when they sought to form a more perfect union. 

Yes because there is so much evidence of massive ballot harvesting in past elections. Voter suppression is ABSOLUTELY NOT what the founders had in mind when they sought to form a more perfect union.