U.S. postmaster promises timely election mail, 'dramatic' changes after

[rooster59]

U.S. postmaster promises timely election mail, 'dramatic' changes after

By Andy Sullivan and David Shepardson

 

U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy holds up a chart showing the recent elimination of extra or late trips to deliver mail between June 1 - August 17, 2020 as he testifies via video feed in a screen capture made during a virtual hearing of the U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee entitled "Examining the Finances and Operations of the United States Postal Service During COVID-19 and Upcoming Elections" in Washington, U.S., August 21, 2020. U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee via REUTERS

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Postmaster Louis DeJoy on Friday told lawmakers the Postal Service would deliver ballots "securely and on time" in the November presidential election, but indicated he would pursue dramatic operational changes after that date.

 

DeJoy faced pointed questions at a Senate hearing from Democrats, who have accused the wealthy Republican donor of trying to tilt the election to President Donald Trump.

 

Republicans largely defended DeJoy, saying the Postal Service needed an overhaul. "I am sorry you are on the targeting end of this political hit piece," Senate Homeland Security Committee Chairman Ron Johnson told him.

 

The Postal Service's governing board plans to announce that DeJoy has their "full support," according to a person briefed on the matter.

 

DeJoy sought to assure Americans that widespread delays caused by cost-cutting measures would not cause their mail ballots to go uncounted in November. DeJoy suspended those service changes this week after facing public outrage.

 

"The American people should feel comfortable that the Postal Service will deliver on this election," he told the Senate Homeland Security Committee.

 

But DeJoy insisted that overtime limits and other cost-cutting measures would be needed to shore up the finances of a service that lost $9 billion (£7 billion) last year. More sweeping changes could be in store after November, he said.

 

DeJoy, who has donated $2.7 million to Trump and other Republicans since 2016, rejected charges that he was trying to undermine confidence in the Postal Service ahead of an election in which up to half of U.S. voters could vote by mail partly due to the coronavirus pandemic.

 

Trump has repeatedly and without evidence said that an increase in mail-in ballots would lead to a surge in fraud, although he himself has voted by mail. Trump said last week that he opposes additional Postal Service funding because it could lead to wider use of mail voting.

 

Experts say it is secure as any other method.

 

DeJoy said he has not spoken with the Trump campaign or White House Staff Mark Meadows about postal service operations.

 

He said postal workers will deliver 95 percent of election mail within three days, as they did in the 2018 congressional elections. The increased mail volume would not be a problem for the Postal Service, which sees far larger increases ahead of Christmas and Mother's Day, he said.

 

He added that he would personally vote by mail.

 

DeJoy, however, said he would not bring back mail-sorting machines and mailboxes that have been pulled from service in recent weeks, saying they were routine responses to changes in mail volume, which has dropped in the pandemic. He said he had not ordered those changes.

 

After he took the job in June, DeJoy imposed reductions in overtime, cuts in retail hours and restrictions on extra mail transportation trips that resulted in widespread delays nationwide.

 

Bigger changes could be in store after the election. DeJoy urged regulators to allow the Postal Service to raise prices and pressed lawmakers to lower retirement costs. He said the coronavirus pandemic had cost the service $10 billion.

 

The Washington Post reported on Friday that DeJoy has proposed setting higher prices for service in some states and requiring election ballots to use First Class postage instead of cheaper bulk-mail service, among other changes.

 

"We're considering dramatic changes to improve service," he said.

 

Republican Senator Rand Paul said he should consider laying off some of the service's 630,000 employees.

 

Senator Gary Peters, the top Democrat on the Senate Homeland Security Committee, said he had received more than 7,500 reports of mail delays from people in his home state of Michigan.

 

"If you plan to continue pursuing these kinds of changes, I think my colleagues, and many of our constituents, will continue to question whether you are the right person to lead this indispensable public institution," Peters said.

 

Delaware Senator Tom Carper was caught uttering a series of expletives as he struggled with technology issues in the hearing, which was conducted via video.

 

Six states and the District of Columbia sued DeJoy on Friday, saying the service changes have harmed their ability to conduct free and fair elections.

 

Dozens of Democrats in the House of Representatives have called for DeJoy to be fired. DeJoy is due to testify there on Monday.

 

The House is due to vote Saturday on legislation that would provide $25 billion in Postal Service and require DeJoy to reverse his service changes.

 

(Editing by Chris Sanders and Alistair Bell)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-08-22

 

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[Tug]

He’s right about one thing come November he’s out on his keester he’s not replacing the drop boxes ripped out nor reinstalling the sorting machines so the damage done stands be pro active about your vote they are obviously desperate to suppress it this assault on our democracy must be stopped 

[mtls2005]

Mob bosses rarely communicate directly with hitmen, just sayin'...

 

DeJoy says he didn't speak to Trump about USPS changes

Postmaster General Louis DeJoy said he did not speak to President Trump about controversial operational initiatives that some Democrats claimed could undermine mail-in voting ahead of the election.

 

"Did you discuss those changes, or their potential impact on the November election with the President or anyone at the White House? And I'll remind you you're under oath," Democratic Sen. Gary Peters asked.

 

https://edition.cnn.com/politics/live-news/postmaster-general-dejoy-senate-testimony/h_91ccfcaa21cc24decc04c6b184c21e27

 

 

 

 

[cmarshall]

I don't trust that DeJoy will live up to his promises to Congress.  Why would anyone take any Trump lackey at his word?

[Kelsall]

1 hour ago, Tug said:

He’s right about one thing come November he’s out on his keester he’s not replacing the drop boxes ripped out nor reinstalling the sorting machines so the damage done stands be pro active about your vote they are obviously desperate to suppress it this assault on our democracy must be stopped 

Trump will once again win the election fair and square.

[Tug]

4 minutes ago, Kelsall said:

Trump will once again win the election fair and square.

Catching any fish?lol

[rcummings]

It turns out Democrats should thank Trump for the appointment of Dejoy. He won't back down on plans to charge more for delivery to rural areas and he wants to eliminate the special subsidy program for deliveries to Alaska. Those plans might possibly not be so popular with voters in those areas.

[Bluespunk]

3 hours ago, rooster59 said:

More sweeping changes could be in store after November, he said.

Don’t worry, there will be changes after November. 
 

You might want to start overhauling your cv though. 

[bendejo]

1 hour ago, rcummings said:

It turns out Democrats should thank Trump for the appointment of Dejoy. He won't back down on plans to charge more for delivery to rural areas and he wants to eliminate the special subsidy program for deliveries to Alaska. Those plans might possibly not be so popular with voters in those areas.

You make it sound like only Democrats use the US Mail.

 

 

[RoadWarrior371]

Glad the Democrats are smart enough to sniff out this sabotage.  I hear phone booths are also disappearing at an alarming rate. ????

[rcummings]

8 minutes ago, bendejo said:

You make it sound like only Democrats use the US Mail.

 

 

Actually, my point was just the opposite. Alaska and rural areas tend to vote Republican. Hence the gratitude owed by Democrats to DeJoy. He just handed then a lovely campaign issue.

[Emdog]

"He’s right about one thing come November he’s out on his keester...."

Not true. If Trump loses, he will be able to trash what is left of the republic until Jan 20

[Paul Henry]

Interesting when you look at the states that already have had sorting machines taken out not to be replaced. Mainly Republican held states that look like they may swing to Democrats. Could be a coincidence I am sure. 

[Thingamabob]

This is irrelevant. Anyone see the Dems nomination event ? What a bunch of clueless losers. Easy win for Trump come November. Won't even be close.

[IAMHERE]

Deliver ballots securely and on time. Anyone know why Social Security will not use the mail anymore?

[rcummings]

1 minute ago, IAMHERE said:

Deliver ballots securely and on time. Anyone know why Social Security will not use the mail anymore?

Social security does use the mail. Just not to send money. Direct deposit is cheaper and more efficient.

[whaleboneman]

13 hours ago, RoadWarrior371 said:

Glad the Democrats are smart enough to sniff out this sabotage.  I hear phone booths are also disappearing at an alarming rate. ????

Grandpa, what's a phone booth?

[bendejo]

Interesting thing about the DT fans, even before this PO mess began, is that they think all these things being taken away or changing for the worst will only affect those who oppose their orange savior.  "Yeah, take the PO away, make those liberals cry! hahaha!"  How dumb does someone have to be to think it won't effect them and their own households?  As if somehow you get a free pass because of who you voted for. 

I heard an Iowa farmer who was having a hard time because of the trade wars say "We voted for him, this shouldn't be happening to us!"

 

 

[watthong]

Dejoy promises? Who cares? It clears to any one with brains that he's just another lackey doing Trump's dirty work. Dejoy testimonial tactic is philibustering, as Daskin called him out on it during the Committee Oversight hearing. Not answering directly to the questions, but killing time with irrelevent details and vague words. His only memo to self is stick to " the truck delivery schedules". To all accusations he basically just bears and grins. To all requests of promises on his part, he'll get back to you later. Again the Dems are doing a rather lame job especially in the face of Dejoy's bold retorts (gimme a billion and I'll plug back those machines, he said with a smirk taking on Kakhan's challenge.) Only Wasserman seems to be capable to pin him down for the short time that she had amidst all the interruptions from the other side. I can no longer deny the rot coming up from those long faces on both sides of the aisle.

Edited August 24, 2020 by watthong