Political battle over postal service takes unprecedented turn

Transcript

Lawmakers on Capitol Hill want to know why post office leaders are slowing down mail service and warning election officials that mail-in ballots will not automatically be moved as priority mail.

The moves threatened to affect millions of voters ahead of the presidential election.

Republicans say the decision is about efficiency but Democrats say the recent changes at the post office are an underhanded attempt to manipulate the election.

And now House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is calling for both parties to end their recess and head back to Washington to address the U.S. Postal Service.

An aide tells CNN that will likely happen Saturday.

And that date would make the session unprecedented since it would take place during the Republican National Convention.

No session has ever taken place during a party’s National Convention.

In a letter to Democrats Pelosi says she wants members to vote on the “Delivering For America Act.”

She says it would prohibit the Postal Service from implementing operational changes that weren’t in place at the start of the year.

Democrats say the bottom line is they want a fair election with every vote counted.

And if White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows is right, Republicans want the same thing.

He also promised that mail sorting machines will not be taken off line between now and election day.

Posted – 8.17.20