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Reps should protect U.S. Postal Service

It is no secret that President Donald Trump has long wanted to privatize the U.S. Postal Service.

But his latest attack on the USPS is taking things to new levels. He is refusing to approve extra funding for the post office to help with the additional costs related to COVID-19.

But the administration has gone further. Trump’s new Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, who has no experience with the postal service and has financial interests in companies that compete with the USPS, is deliberately undermining postal services.

In a supposed effort to improve efficiency, he has cut overtime and ordered that mail be left behind. He has begun removing collections boxes in many states. Most worry he has begun removing or decommissioning hundreds of bulk mail sorting machines around the country. These machines can process 35,000 pieces of mail per hour.

How reverting to hand sorting of mail can improve efficiency is a mystery.

And Trump has openly cheered that this will impact mail-in voting, which he fears hurt his election chances. Such a blatant attempt to skew the election is indefensible.

But beyond the impact on ballot processing, what does this mean for day-to-day functions?

It means that medicine deliveries are being delayed. It means that payment you sent to a credit card company will be late and your credit rating will be damaged for years to come. It means your Social Security check will be late. It means small business shipments and advertising will not reach customers on time. It means those of us who are relying more on home delivery to stay safe during a pandemic will wait longer to receive needed goods.

Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution authorizes Congress to establish the post office. That a president and administration charged with upholding the Constitution is deliberately undermining the post office is a disgrace.

It is time for our congressional representatives (John Joyce, Pat Toomey and Bob Casey) to step up and protect the postal service so important to a rural county like Blair.

Helen M. Sheehy

Tyrone

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