On Saturday, the House of Representatives passed legislation that would prevent the U.S. Postal Service from making any changes to its operations that could delay the delivery of mail for the fall election.
The bill was largely about party lines, 257-150, with 26 Republicans bringing in party leaders to support it.
Saturday’s rare vote came after Postmaster General Louis DeJoy
Louis DeJoyDemocrats say Post Service delay ‘much worse than previously acknowledged’ Playing politics with USPS House pushing for B to approve Post Service in Saturday’s rare vote announced earlier this week that it would suspend austerity measures until after the November election.
But Democrats argued that DeJoy’s announcement fell short and the measures already in place, which have caused delays in mail delivery, were not reversed. In addition, there is a clear lack of trust between the Democrats and the postmaster general.
“His remarks are one thing; his actions will be different, ”Speaker said Nancy Pelosi
Nancy PelosiDemocrats prep ads, events to hit Trump during GOP convention Democrats look to capitalize on Biden’s big moment The Hill’s Convention Report: Postmaster General grilled | Looking forward to GOP convention | Trump campaign goes billions in MORE spending (D-Caliph.). “And that’s why we have this legislation.”
The proposal would prevent the Postal Service from making operational changes that result in reduced services – such as removal of e-mail sorting machines, restriction of overtime pay or removal of election mail if anything other than first class for priority delivery – until the COVID 19 pandemic is over.
It would also provide $ 25 billion for Postal Service operations, an amount originally recommended by the agency’s board. House Democrats also included funding in the $ 3.4 trillion coronavirus relief package they passed in May.
“It makes absolutely no sense to introduce these dramatic changes in the midst of a pandemic, less than three months before the November elections,” said House Oversight and Reform Committee chairman Carolyn Maloney
Carolyn Bosher MaloneyWhite House threatens to veto Democrats’ bill for postal services The Hill’s Morning Report – Coronavirus, character and Michelle Obama headline Day 1 for Dems DHS denies government government dog that top officials were wrongly appointed (DN.Y.), the author of the bill, said during floor.
While some GOP legislators crossed party lines to vote for the bill, House GOP leaders urged their members to vote in favor. And the bill is hung on a brick wall in the Senate, where Leader is in the majority Mitch McConnell
Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellNew report finds top House staff more diverse than in 2015, but still white tensions flare as senators grill postmaster general Republicans leave states MORE (R-Ky.) Has signaled his intention to ignore it.
The White House has also issued a veto threat.
Republicans have largely downplayed the effects of DeJoy’s austerity measures, such as removing increasingly unused blue sidewalks, and accusing Democrats of promoting a ‘conspiracy theory’.
“Like the Russian hoax and the impeachment scandal, the Democrats have created another scandal for political purposes,” Rep. James ComerJames (Jamie) R. ComerHouse Proposes B to Be Approved for Postal Service in Rare Saturday Vote Clyburn bashes Post cuts: It’s a service, not a matter House Republicans advocate Democrats fabricate USPS crisis MORE (Ky.), The top Republican on the House oversight and reform committee.
DeJoy, a GOP donor who left the private sector to become postmaster general in June, had overseen measures that included restricting mail carriers and removing some e-mail and sorting machines.
Alarm over the resulting mail delay delays is composed by President Trump
Donald John TrumpCEO of parent company National Enquirer steps out Biden that he would shut down US in the midst of pandemic when scientists said it was necessary. Warren is calling for board members of the Postal Service to fire DeJoy or MORE‘S persistent attacks on votes by mail and attempts to sow doubt in his credibility. Trump himself, however, voted absent in multiple Florida elections this year.
DeJoy testified Friday before the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee that the Postal Service is “fully capable and committed to delivering the nation’s election mail safely and on time.”
DeJoy further acknowledged the recent delivery delays, including the effect on medicines for presenting mail order from veterans processed through the Veterans Affairs health system.
“We all feel bad about what the dip in our service, the level, has been,” DeJoy said in response to Sen.’s question. Rob Portman
Robert (Rob) Jones PortmanGOP Senator draws fire from all sides on Biden, Obama-era probes Ron Johnson signals what GOP senators worried about his Obama-era probes Davis: The Hall of Shame for GOP senators keeping quiet about Donald Trump MORE (R-Ohio).
DeJoy is also set to be grilled on Monday morning by members of the House committee on oversight and reform.
In addition to sending out e-mails, many states also allow early voting in person, allowing people to avoid potential lines at polling stations on election day while the COVID-19 pandemic continues. Voters also often have the option to receive a ballot in the mail and then drop it off in person at the local polling station or designated dropbox prior to election day.
House Democratic leaders recalled lawmakers early in the August recession for a rare weekend session to review legislation. They plan to drop the vote between the two parties’ conventions: Democrats held their formal nomination this week from former vice president Joe Biden
Joe BidenBiden says he will close US amid pandemic as scientists say it was necessary Harris laughs at Trump’s attacks in interview: ‘They’ are designed to distract Biden, Democrats get bail for fundraising during digital convention MORE for the White House, while the GOP event to re-nominate Trump will begin Monday.
Funding for the postal service has also been part of negotiations on a package for coronavirus relief. But the bilingual talks have been stalled for weeks, mainly on funding for state and local governments and extend a supplement to a $ 600-a-week federal unemployment insurance that expired at the end of July.
More than 100 House Democrats signed a letter this week urging leadership to also vote on Saturday on legislation that would renew $ 600 unemployment benefits on a time frame based on econometrics rather than on a random expiration date.
The Heroes Act aid package passed by House Democrats in May would have extended payments by January 2021.
But Pelosi rejected the idea of voting Saturday on a standalone unemployment insurance bill, claiming it could undermine the levy for other aspects of a coronavirus help package.
“I’m not for splitting unless this is a need,” Pelosi said, referring to the mail accounts. “And it has policies in place that were not in the Heroes Act.”
The White House pledged $ 10 billion to the Postal Service in negotiations earlier this month, but Republicans opposed a vote on a standalone postal bill, instead pushing for the new funding to be combined with money for small businesses, schools and unemployment benefits. .
“Is [Pelosi] say the Postal Service is more important than unemployed Americans? Does she see the postal service as more important than helping small businesses? Staff of the White House Mark Meadows
Mark Randall MeadowsPelosi axes idea of Saturday’s vote on extra COVID relief The Hill’s Morning Report – Obama portrays Trump as impossible leader; Harris accepts VP nod Meadows says postmaster general does not discuss changes with pauses with Trump MORE told reporters on Capitol Hill on Saturday. “I would not hope so, because here she is doing a very slender version of a negotiation that took place a few weeks ago when we made the $ 10 billion offer for postal.”
It is unclear how the impasse will be resolved. In an ominous sign of things to come, Meadows indicated that the sides have not spoken since the talks broke earlier in the month.
“We haven’t had conversations in weeks,” he said.
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