Dems to shorten recess over USPS crisis [Video]

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• Democrat lawmakers are considering an early resume of House session to address the issues concerning the US Postal Service, Politico and CNN reported.
• In a statement on Friday, top Democrat leaders House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer accused President Donald Trump of leading “all-out assault on the Postal Service” to sabotage the mail-in voting.
• The USPS inspector general has launched an investigation on the agency’s operational changes which will include ethical issues concerning Postmaster General Louis DeJoy.

Citing various sources, Politico and CNN reported that top democrat legislators led by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi are planning to shorten the congress’ recess to aid the latest alarming developments revolving the US Postal Service (USPS).

Sources told Politico that the House could go in session within the next two weeks to deal with the USPS issues, which appeared to be dismantled even with the growing calls to use mail-in ballots for the November election to avoid the risk of getting infected with the coronavirus.

A bill introduced by House Oversight and Reform Committee Chair Representative Carolyn Malone is being taken into account. The proposal aims to restrict the USPS’s move to overhaul or made major changes that would prevent mail-in voting.

President Donald Trump and his appointee ━ Postmaster General Louis DeJoy are being accused by Democrats of hampering the mail system to use for Trump’s advantage.

On Thursday, Trump blatantly said that he has held the funding for the USPS that would hinder its ability to manage the proposed mail-in voting.

DeJoy imposed new limits on mail delivery and suspended overtime work in an internal memo released last month. The agency further dispatched about 15 percent of its automated mail-sorting machines and started minimizing the collection of letterboxes in several states.

The Washington Post reported on Friday that the USPS released a letter to 46 states saying that voters could be deprived to vote since mail-in ballots may not be delivered in time for the election.

Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer released a statement on Friday accusing Trump of spearheading an “all-out assault on the Postal Service and its role in ensuring the integrity of the 2020 election.” 

Trump “made plain that he will manipulate the operations of the Post Office to deny eligible voters the ballot in pursuit of his re-election. The president’s own words confirm: He needs to cheat to win,” the statement said.

According to CNN, the inspector general of the USPS has started to investigate the service cuts and possible ethical violations of DeJoy over the changes he instituted on the agency.

DeJoy still has equity amounting to $30 million from XPO Logistics, his former company which also happened to be a USPS contractor. If the agency falls, it would partner with a competitor where DeJoy could personally benefit from.

Legislators are being criticized for having a recess without passing another round of COVID-19 relief aid and fixing the USPS issue.

Source: AOL.com