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Pelosi considering recalling Congress over Post Office woes

Published 08/15/2020, 07:24 PM
Updated 08/15/2020, 09:50 PM
© Reuters. U.S. President Donald Trump arrives in New Jersey

© Reuters. U.S. President Donald Trump arrives in New Jersey

By David Shepardson and Raphael Satter

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi may recall lawmakers from a summer recess to address changes at the Postal Service that have prompted anger among Democrats and alarm about possible impact on the 2020 election.

A Democratic congressional aide confirmed a Politico report that Pelosi could call back the U.S. House later this month, well ahead of the scheduled resumption of votes in mid-September. The aide confirmed Pelosi held a call with other top Democrats on Saturday to discuss the idea.

"The President, his cronies and Republicans in Congress continue to wage their all-out assault on the Postal Service and its role in ensuring the integrity of the 2020 election," Pelosi and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said on Friday.

This week, Representative Carolyn Maloney, the Democratic chair of a House panel that oversees the Postal Service, introduced legislation to prohibit the service from implementing any changes to the operations or level of service it had in place in January 2020, until the COVID-19 pandemic has ended.

It is possible the House could vote on that measure, the aide said.

The struggling Post Office has suffered increasing delays following cost-cutting measures imposed by President Donald Trump's new Postmaster General, Louis DeJoy.

DeJoy's downsizing drive - which has included curbs on overtime and removal of post boxes - has become a major concern for Democrats who accuse Trump of asphyxiating the Post Office to disrupt the Nov. 3 election, which is expected to feature an unprecedented wave of postal voting due to the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.

The disruption is driving an unusual amount of anger at DeJoy from otherwise middle-of-the-road politicians, with even some Republicans expressing worry amid reports that medical deliveries were being slowed.

Tennessee Democratic Representative Jim Cooper, a member of the centrist "Blue Dog" coalition, said he was among those who had called on Pelosi to reconvene Congress and that lawmakers should subpoena the postmaster general.

"If he fails to appear, we should send the Sgt at Arms to arrest him," Cooper said in a Twitter post.

Trump offered qualified support for DeJoy on Saturday, saying he was a "very talented man" who was trying to streamline the Postal Service and only wanted to "make it great again" - a play on his 2016 campaign slogan.

On the other hand, Trump tried to put some distance between himself and the problems at the Post Office since DeJoy took over, telling reporters, "I don't know what he's doing," when asked about DeJoy's cuts.

On Friday, the Postal Service's inspector general said it would be investigating the cuts - as well as potential conflicts of interest related to DeJoy's ownership of millions of dollars in stock in Postal Service rivals and customers, according to a financial disclosure form filed by his wife.

Early on Saturday, protesters gathered outside DeJoy's upscale condominium in Washington to chant, bang pots and wave placards that denounced him as "Postmaster Saboteur."

© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Delivers Weekly Press Conference

One sign read, "Deliver DeMail, Depose DeJoy."

Latest comments

No mail. No healthcare. No jobs. No free or fair elections. Banned from the rest of the world. Our taxes blown on giveaways to corrupt corporations and institutions. Police violence against anyone who challenges this arrangement. We’re living in a failed state, no doubt about it.
Dems have a good head on their shoulder. While Trump is busy signing up on TikTik competitors the Dems' Pelosi is working on real deficiencies. When GOP is snoring and partying Dems are working to solve pressing issues. Your gov't checks and other postal deliveries are in danger. Have respect for those working on real issues while potus has been trying to pull the rug from under America. This is stage one of two. If Trump remains after the election he shifts to stage two of two: the autocratic imitation of those others he admires like China, NoKo, Russia, mbs, Syria, all of whom overpower the will of their citizens thus turning them into slaves
..TikTok..
Well said. Trump never really understood the Constitution or the role of the President in a democratic republic. He thinks (and acts) like he's the president of a giant private company called The USA. He would love to have the power of a medieval king or a modern dictator, and do away with democratic norms such as oversight, checks and balances, and fair and equal representation.
Trump will loose if Universal V goes to all states. That i can guarantee.
Universal= all get a M in B. Gosh i hate this # site/app.
The usps is not built to handle that huge amount
They can handle it with money for temp hires, and other adjustments, just like they do at Christmas time.
Congress should NOT be out of session anyway, they haven't done their jobs.
once Pelosi is gone, things will improve significantly. the indictments are there, just wait
more so for trump: tax cheat, insider trading, etc
Summer recess??? So kind of these thoughtful politicians to take a break while the pandemic rolls on. Don't worry about getting the next stimulus package out to people and companies that need it. Term limits on politicians can't come soon enough!!
Democrats have only fought to waste money on other countries and for open borders.. To be Democrat nowadays is like saying "I'm not smart"..
Blatant traitorous criminal behavior taken straight out of the fascist playbook. Heads should roll!
It must be so boring being a Canadian that you have to constantly write articles about US postal service and other little issues. Should write about how to fix your economy the grows .1% a year.
ND the welfare state
haha we got billions in the bank nice try
Let’s be real here. If you can shop in Walmart, then you can vote in person. In theory the delivery or non-delivery of ballots is equally effective for either political party. It is very strange that the DemocraticParty is so against this action. There must be much more to the story. Nothing new here. Just keep moving on.
More on supreme
Please explain?
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