As the politicization of the U.S. Postal Service threatens the legitimacy of the election in November, the House of Representatives has been called back into session to vote to affirm the independence of USPS and hold hearings with its leadership while the Senate continues its gridlock and dysfunction under Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. In response, Fix Our Senate issued the following statement:
“The Senate and Mitch McConnell have refused to do their constitutional duty and serve as a check on the Executive Branch and it is a threat to our democracy. Right now, the Senate cannot perform the most basic tasks in our democracy: protecting American lives and securing free and fair elections. Instead, they're handing over power to a President with no respect for Americans' lives, their rights, or the rule of law. This is just the latest reminder that McConnell has broken the Senate and that we’re going to need real changes to ensure it can govern effectively.”
In the midst of the worst pandemic in a century, staggering interference with the Postal Service raised concerns that, in many states, mail-in ballots would be delivered too late. Attacks on the Post Office are attacks on the fairness of our elections. As our voting system is threatened, where is McConnell in all of this?
McConnell has thus far refused to call back the Senate to protect the election — an election in which he is competing — and has not commented on the turmoil at the USPS, which is headed by his long-time fundraiser and ally Louis DeJoy.