Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is not completely confident the Senate will agree to pass a stand-alone bill for the United States Postal Service (USPS).
McConnell spoke about the possibility of a bailout being passed to aid the USPS on Tuesday. He admitted he does not see a bill coming to fruition.
“I don’t think we’ll pass, in the Senate, a Postal-only bill,” McConnell told the Louisville Courier-Journal.
Although McConnell expresses doubt about the Senate’s stance on a stand-alone bill, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has called House Democrats back to Washington, D.C., to propose and pass Postal Service legislation on Saturday.
In the Democrats’ proposed bill, Pelosi is expected to include the $25 billion, which was reportedly previously requested by the USPS Board of Governors.
Despite President Donald Trump’s criticism of Democratic lawmakers’ demand for a large sum, it is also important to note that the board consists of “100% Trump appointees,” as ABC News cites an aide.
McConnell’s latest remarks came just hours after Postmaster General Louis DeJoy — also a Trump appointee and supporter — released a statement confirming his intention to halt all executive changes to the postal service until after the election, as previously reported on IJR.
“To avoid even the appearance of any impact on election mail, I am suspending these initiatives until after the election is concluded,” DeJoy said in a statement.
DeJoy’s decision came amid public outcry and heightened scrutiny from Democratic leaders. The stark charges and extended mail delays have prompted calls for an investigation into DeJoy’s handling of the postal service.
Despite DeJoy’s plans to pause all changes and leave many aspects of the postal service as they are, Pelosi has confirmed House Democrats will still vote on Postal Service legislation on Saturday.
“This pause only halts a limited number of the Postmaster’s changes, does not reverse damage already done, and alone is not enough to ensure voters will not be disenfranchised by the President this fall,” Pelosi said in a statement.
She continued, “The House will be moving ahead with our vote this Saturday.”