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USPS: WHAT'S HAPPENING?
THE PROBLEM: New Trump-donor postmaster implemented policies to slow down mail. The delays are snowballing. USPS is broke.
THE SHORT TERM SOLUTION: Include USPS in next round of COVID relief funds.
THE LONG TERM SOLUTION: Pass USPS Fairness Act.
/1
THE PROBLEM: New Trump-donor postmaster implemented policies to slow down mail. The delays are snowballing. USPS is broke.
THE SHORT TERM SOLUTION: Include USPS in next round of COVID relief funds.
THE LONG TERM SOLUTION: Pass USPS Fairness Act.
/1
Let's unpack. Why's this important?
The USPS delivers *everywhere,* including rural areas that private deliveries skip. Vets & senior citizens rely on USPS for med deliveries. Small biz (like Etsy sellers) would go out of business w/o USPS's low prices. And also- the election /2
The USPS delivers *everywhere,* including rural areas that private deliveries skip. Vets & senior citizens rely on USPS for med deliveries. Small biz (like Etsy sellers) would go out of business w/o USPS's low prices. And also- the election /2
Why is this a problem?
Without the USPS, a lot of people will be in trouble. Did I also mention that USPS is one of our country's largest employers & has a big share of veteran and minority workers? Also this election will use more mail-in ballots than ever before bc of COVID. /3
Without the USPS, a lot of people will be in trouble. Did I also mention that USPS is one of our country's largest employers & has a big share of veteran and minority workers? Also this election will use more mail-in ballots than ever before bc of COVID. /3
An unreliable USPS has several issues re: voting:
-Mail-in ballots could be delayed & not counted in time (this happened in primaries);
-At-risk people might vote in person b/c they don't trust the mail;
-People might not vote at all b/c they don't trust either option;
AND.../4
-Mail-in ballots could be delayed & not counted in time (this happened in primaries);
-At-risk people might vote in person b/c they don't trust the mail;
-People might not vote at all b/c they don't trust either option;
AND.../4
The biggest issue about USPS & the election is Trump. If the mail is slow, people might start to actually believe Trump's unsubstantiated mail voting fraud allegations. His allegations are not based on any actual facts or evidence. /5
Mail-in voting and absentee ballots are the same; they are both processed the same way. Trump's idea to move the election b/c of this is a threat to democracy. /6
Why does this problem exist?
In 2006, a law was passed that forced the USPS to keep cash on hand to fund retirement benefits for the next 75 years. That's literally billions of dollars. This is the Postal Accountability Act. This is why the USPS's financial situation is dire./7
In 2006, a law was passed that forced the USPS to keep cash on hand to fund retirement benefits for the next 75 years. That's literally billions of dollars. This is the Postal Accountability Act. This is why the USPS's financial situation is dire./7
Why else?
There's a new Postmaster (I'll get more into him later) who has implemented policies when he started. These policies prohibit overtime & delivering all of the day's mail, and change sorting processes to make it take longer. These changes have been felt by everyone. /8
There's a new Postmaster (I'll get more into him later) who has implemented policies when he started. These policies prohibit overtime & delivering all of the day's mail, and change sorting processes to make it take longer. These changes have been felt by everyone. /8
What's the short term solution?
USPS funds need to be included in the next round of COVID relief. The USPS needs cash to stay afloat. Also frontline postal workers and letter carriers need PPE and other essentials to do their job safely. /9
USPS funds need to be included in the next round of COVID relief. The USPS needs cash to stay afloat. Also frontline postal workers and letter carriers need PPE and other essentials to do their job safely. /9
The House included this in the HEROES Act. Senate Republicans have rejected including ANY USPS funding in their proposal. /10
Another short term solution floated by Repubs is a loan from Mnuchin's Treasury Dept. This doesn't work for many reasons. It's a loan, which means more debt. The money would have to be spent pursuant to terms set by Mnuchin. And USPS would have to give over proprietary data. /11
What's the long term solution?
The USPS Fairness Act. This specifically repeals the pre-funding mandate of the 2006 law. It would be a critical fix for USPS's finances. And it's been approved by the House. It's currently sitting in the Senate with no vote planned in sight. /12
The USPS Fairness Act. This specifically repeals the pre-funding mandate of the 2006 law. It would be a critical fix for USPS's finances. And it's been approved by the House. It's currently sitting in the Senate with no vote planned in sight. /12
What about the new postmaster?
He is a major Trump donor. And could benefit from privatizing the post office because of his private holdings. (We don't know if he's divested his interests yet). His new policies and their timing --right before an election-- are very suspect. /13
He is a major Trump donor. And could benefit from privatizing the post office because of his private holdings. (We don't know if he's divested his interests yet). His new policies and their timing --right before an election-- are very suspect. /13
And now what can you do about it?
Call your reps. Every day. Seriously. Congressional offices do keep track of how many calls each issue receives every day. We need to put sustained pressure on them. /14
Call your reps. Every day. Seriously. Congressional offices do keep track of how many calls each issue receives every day. We need to put sustained pressure on them. /14
What do you say in your call?
Say you are a constituent and give your zip code. And then ask: 1) that USPS funding be included in the next relief package; 2) an investigation into Postmaster DeJoy's new policies; and 3) a vote on the USPS Fairness Act. /15
Say you are a constituent and give your zip code. And then ask: 1) that USPS funding be included in the next relief package; 2) an investigation into Postmaster DeJoy's new policies; and 3) a vote on the USPS Fairness Act. /15
Feel free to tailor your calls based on whether you are calling the Senate or the House. Reminder- a lot of these initiatives already passed in the House and are now just sitting in the Senate. The House does have the ability to hold oversight into USPS policies, though. /16
Also, be kind to your letter carriers and local postal workers! They are working so hard every day to provide your mail and packages. They take pride in their work and want to provide the best service to you. A lot of these new measures are out of their control. /17
And one final thing: share this info with others! There is a lot of confusion about mail-in voting and the USPS. The more people advocating, the more pressure will be on Congress, and the more likely we'll have the short and long term fixes that USPS desperately needs. Thank you.
