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NEW US POSTMASTER General Louis DeJoy has said he has no plans to restore mailboxes or address other agency cuts made since he took over in June before the country’s election.
The comments have sparked fresh questions over how the Postal Service will ensure timely delivery of an expected surge of mail-in ballots for the November poll.
It was DeJoy’s first time publicly answering questions since summer mail delays brought a public outcry.
Testifying before a Senate committee, the ally of President Donald Trump said it was his “sacred duty” that ballots arrive on time. But he told senators he did not yet have a plan for handling a crush of election mail.
From the White House, Trump delivered fresh complaints over the mail-in ballots expected because of the coronavirus pandemic. As he did so, the House pushed ahead with plans for a rare Saturday vote to block the postal cutbacks and funnel $25 billion dollars to shore up operations.
DeJoy declared the Postal Service “is fully capable and committed to delivering the nation’s election mail securely and on-time”.
He distanced himself from Trump’s objections about mail-in voting and said ensuring ballots arrived was his “No 1 priority between now and Election Day”.
The outcry over mail delays and warnings of political interference have put the Postal Service at the centre of the nation’s tumultuous election year, with Americans of both parties rallying around one of the nation’s oldest and most popular institutions.
The new postmaster general, a Trump donor who took the job at the start of summer to revamp the agency, is facing a backlash over changes since his arrival. Democrats warn his cost-cutting initiatives are causing an upheaval that threatens the election.
With mounting pressure, DeJoy promised this week to postpone any further changes until after the election, saying he wanted to avoid even the perception of interference. A number of blue mailboxes have been removed, back-of-shop sorting equipment has been shut down and overtime hours have been limited.
But DeJoy told senators he had no plan to restore the equipment, saying it was “not needed”.
And he stood by a new rule that limits late delivery trips, which several postal workers have said is a major cause of delivery delays. He vowed more changes are coming to postal operations after November.
Republican senator Mitt Romney said the public’s concern was understandable, particularly given Trump’s efforts to stop universal mail-in ballots. Many states are encouraging mail-in voting in response to voters’ pandemic-related fears of going to crowded polling centers on Election Day.
Trump has said he wants to block agency emergency funding that would help the service handle a great increase in mail-in ballots.
At Friday’s hearing, DeJoy said he had had “no idea” equipment was being removed until the public outcry.
Now that it is widely known, Democrats pressed him for his plan to ensure election mail and ballots arrived on time.
“Do you have a more detailed plan?” said senator Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, asking for it by Sunday.
“I don’t think we’ll have a complete plan by Sunday night,” DeJoy replied.
He is expected to testify before the House on Monday.
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Oh whoops. I thought all those cuts and removal of machines would speed up the service. What’s that you say? It’s effected voting? Because it has delayed ballots being delivered on time and therefore declared void? And this seems to have effected the democratic vote more? Oh dear. That certainly wasn’t intentional. But at least my friend Donald is president again. That’s good news.
@seanfean: This DeJoy fella is like if we sent Sean Gallagher in to head up the Post Office.
@RogersRabbit: This DeJoy fella is a cod.
@seanfean: I think you mean *affected (twice).
Isnt it funny how those delays tend to effect Democrat-supporting districts more than Republican-voting ones, must be just a coincidence I suppose?
@James Walsh: Trump appointed a ‘donor’ as postmaster general in June when postal votes were looking more likely in some States
Bet Don won’t be using the mail service to pay Stormy her 44k court expenses…….
It’s all BS. You can send kids to school, go to the local supermarket, gather for demonstrations in thousands, send covid infected people to nursing homes and have funerals with packed out church etc etc etc…. BUT YOU CANNOT VOTE IN PERSON.
The DemocRats altered state of reality is getting worse. Next they’ll want to rewrite history, oh wait….
@David OShea: sure Donny
@David OShea: well during a pandemic you might want a choice? Or are you a covid denier as well?
@DarkSithLord23: just put on a BLM t-shirt apparently the virus skips over ya
Problem solved!
@Al.Dunne: But there was no virus, it was all a democrat hoax. You dont need social distancing and why is everyone wearing masks????
@David OShea: 16% of the US population is I’ve 65. Over 20% of 18-64 year olds have underlying conditions that mean they are more susceptible to the more sever outcomes of covid-19. Now, that’s well over 50 million people that you are demanding risk their health to vote, voting which is a right and should not be burdensome. Add in the fact that many polling places have been removed from the list since the last election and you’re crying out for vulnerable people standing around in crowds for hours upon hours in the midst of a global pandemic.
@Dave O’Keeffe: Covid is mostly spread by the respitory system, all they have to do is wear a mask and implement social distancing in voting centres. Simple.
@The Upside-down Triangle: masks are risk reduction, not risk elimination. Social distancing in voting centres would have queues for miles for the entire day as well. Add to that the surfaces touched and the length of waiting time meaning people will need to have food and water and toilets available while queueing for hours (queueing for hours was already normal in many districts last time around) Also, telling people they can’t vote unless they’re wearing a mask may be unconstitutional. Not sure on that last part but it’s more likely than masks being unconstitutional in general.
@David OShea: back to voat like a good lad..
@David OShea: you argued against your position
@Dave O’Keeffe: postpone the elections like they did in NZ, problem solved. But no the Democrats would never have that, they rather risk the lives of people or have a contentious vote rather than just doing the right thing. The opposition in NZ actually came up with that idea, why dont the Democrats do the same?
@Giddy: the constitution doesn’t allow for postponement. Constitutionally the presidents term must end at midday on January 20th.
@Giddy: yet more evidence that you don’t have a clue
@Dave O’Keeffe: Postpone them till January then, the election doesn’t have to be in November, Its not that hard to the maths Dave, think rationally for once Dave
@Dave O’Keeffe: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-delay-powers-factbox-idUSKCN24V2V1 here you go Dave, it can be postponed, wrong again as usual Dave
He owns 70 million in shares in rival delivery services
@Colm Lawlor: He’s a Trump Stooge trying to influence the election. But some people think that’s ok.
Wink Wink
BS.
The only good thing about the Orange Tub is the short shelf life, soon gone and swiftly forgotten by all.
The cheque is in the post
Just postpone the elections like they did in NZ, problem solved, everyone can vote in person or through absentee ballot like normal.
Haha could you imagine the Democrats actually caring more about people’s health over getting into power.
Big fat lies… don’t believe a word he’s saying !
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