Durbin, Garcia defend Postal Service
Garcia pledges action, charging, ‘Donald Trump is tampering with the post office’
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin speaks from his Springfield home during Monday’s remote news conference. (BlueRoomStream)
By Ted Cox
Two leading Democrats in the Illinois congressional delegation criticized President Trump Monday for “tampering with the post office,” and promised swift action to fund the U.S. Postal Service ahead of the fall election.
Speaking at an Illinois news briefing ahead of the start of the Democratic National Convention Monday night, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin and U.S. Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia of Chicago both charged the president was trying to defund USPS after Trump admitted so much last week, telling Fox Business: “They need that money in order to make the post office work so it can take all of these millions and millions of ballots. But if they don’t get those two items, that means you can’t have universal mail-in voting, because they’re not equipped to have it.”
Trump has been a frequent critic of mail-in ballots, even as both Democrats and Republicans have said it’s essential to bolster that voting system in a pandemic. At one point, Trump tweeted: “The 2020 election will be totally rigged if mail-in voting is allowed to take place, & everyone knows it.” He has also stated Republicans have no chance of winning elections if voting is made easier.
“Without a doubt, Donald Trump is tampering with the post office,” Garcia said during Monday’s online news conference. That threatens not only the integrity of the November election, he added, but also jeopardizes seniors and rural residents who typically receive their medication, Social Security checks, and other essential goods through the mail.
“Donald Trump has made it clear that he’s willing to play political games with the post office if it gives him an advantage in the next election,” Durbin added. “America’s message to Donald Trump is very simple. Keep your hands out of our mailboxes. We believe the Postal Service does a great job. They need our support. They don’t need to be sabotaged in the name of political victory for Donald Trump.”
Citing overwhelming public support for the post office, which typically ranks higher than any other federal agency in public trust, Garcia said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was already preparing for representatives to return to the nation’s capital this weekend to address complaints against Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, a Trump political contributor who’s been charged with overseeing the removal of mail-sorting equipment, as well as post boxes on the street.
“We will be in Washington on Saturday to take votes to fund the post office,” Garcia said. “Without a doubt, this is one of the most flagrant violations of democracy. Donald Trump is seeking to undermine democratic institutions to advance his own interests, to prevent a fair election by causing disruption and confusion.” Garcia said his House colleagues, Democrats and Republicans, are out to “prevent any more tinkering or destruction of infrastructure in the post office.”
He added, “This is quickly becoming a bipartisan cause. This is good for the country.” Garcia also pointed out that the HEROES Act, which passed the House in May, includes $25 billion in USPS funding, but has not been taken up by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.
Under DeJoy, who assumed the office in June, the Postal Service warned last week that it might not be able to deliver ballots in time for the Nov. 3 election in 46 states, including Illinois. Durbin has been outspoken of late over the slowed delivery of mail, publishing an op-ed column in the Chicago Sun-Times last week saying: “It’s undeniable that these delays also threaten our ability to hold a free and fair election. We are less than 100 days away from a national election where mail-in ballots delivered by USPS will be vital to ensuring that people of all political persuasions can safely exercise their right to vote while following public health experts’ recommendations to reduce the spread of COVID-19. No American should have to put their health at risk to cast their ballot.”
Earlier this month, Durbin and U.S. Rep. Danny Davis of Chicago called for adequate funding of the Postal Service.
“In the months since the pandemic swept the country the post office has seen a dramatic increase in parcel volume, between 20 percent and 80 percent above last year’s volume. In Illinois, we are receiving thousands of reports of mail delay across the state, from Chicago to Cairo,” Durbin said. “As the COVID-19 pandemic has upended daily life across the country, millions of Americans now depend on USPS to deliver medications, home health equipment, groceries, and other vital mail. These delays can have life-threatening implications.”
“It is very clear that the Postal Service needs money assistance and leadership to keep the mail moving,” Davis added. “The Postal Services should not be used to try and impede or muck up the vote by mail.”