July 21, 2017 — Rachel Cole
On July 19, 2017, the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs (HSGAC) held a hearing titled, “The Postal Service’s Actions During the 2016 Campaign Season: Implications for the Hatch Act.” During testimony from both the United States Postal Service’s (USPS) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) and the Office of Special Counsel (OSC), it was revealed that the USPS violated federal law, the Hatch Act, during the 2016 campaign cycle.
July 21, 2017 — Rachel Cole 1500653140
February 24, 2017 — Rachel Cole
It is no secret that the United States Postal Service (USPS) is broke and broken. The agency’s low standards of delivery are rarely achieved, it has billions in losses and unfunded liabilities, and it has failed to adapt to changing markets. Reforms are essential, but H.R. 756, the Postal Service Reform Act, falls short of what is needed.
February 24, 2017 — Rachel Cole 1487947419
February 6, 2017
To Members of the U.S. Congress:
We, the undersigned organizations, representing millions of taxpayers and consumers nationwide, urge Congress to oppose H.R. 756, the “Postal Service Reform Act of 2017” introduced by House Government Oversight Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz, and the Committee’s Ranking Member Elijah Cummings.
For years, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has suffered from operational and financial inefficiencies, and while reforms are needed, H.R. 756 misses the mark and may actually exacerbate the issues facing USPS.
December 12, 2016 — Rachel Cole
On December 8, 2016, Chairman James Bilbray of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) Board of Governors served his final day, leaving the board with no independent governors for the first time in its short history. As of this writing, only the Postmaster General and the Deputy Postmaster General make up the members of the “independent” board.
December 12, 2016 — Rachel Cole 1481566774
October 12, 2016 — Rachel Cole
On September 20, 2016, the United States Postal Service (USPS) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) released a report titled “The Oversight of Oil and Gas Mineral Rights.” The report sought to assess USPS’ oversight of their oil and gas mineral rights.
October 12, 2016 — Rachel Cole 1476296953
September 14, 2016 — Rachel Cole
Even to the most neutral observer, the United States Postal Service’s (USPS) financial condition is dire. Notwithstanding it $18 billion annual advantage over other private sector companies (exemption from income; state local sales; and property tax exemption; power of eminent domain; monopoly control over mailboxes; and a $15 billion line of credit from the U.S. Treasury) the USPS has posted more than $50 billion in losses since 2007 and faces $125 billion in unfunded liabilities. Regardless of how the USPS arrived at this position, there is a broad consensus that reform is needed.
September 14, 2016 — Rachel Cole 1473875011
September 13, 2016 — Rachel Cole
On August 29, 2016, the Office of the Inspector General (IG) for the United States Postal Service (USPS) released an audit report on USPS facilities in the Capital Metro Area. The Capital Metro Area, which includes Atlanta, Baltimore, Greensboro, Richmond, and surrounding areas, is home to 2,600 postal facilities (USPS leases and owns more than 30,000 nationwide). Of the 20 buildings audited, the IG found that many had roof and lighting problems, security issues, and possible Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) v
September 13, 2016 — Rachel Cole 1473782422