In The News
Postmaster General Louis DeJoy told lawmakers Monday that he has warned allies of President Donald Trump that the president’s repeated attacks on the legitimacy of mail-in ballots are “not helpful,” but denied that recent changes at the Postal Service are linked to the November elections…. The oversight hearing came two days after the House approved legislation to reverse changes at the Postal Service and send $25 billion to shore up the agency ahead of the November election. Twenty-six House Republicans broke with Trump to back the House bill, which passed 257-150, but there was little sign of bipartisanship at Monday’s hearing…. DeJoy said he’s in “full compliance” with ethics rules and said he resented the line of questions. Rep. John Sarbanes, D-Md., told DeJoy flatly that he does not trust him. Republicans took the opposite approach, repeatedly apologizing to DeJoy for the harsh questions and dismissing the Democrats' inquiries about mail delivery delays as a conspiracy theory.
Maryland lawmakers announced new federal funding for Baltimore City to help the city prepare for pandemics. U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Representatives Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, and Kweisi Mfume (all D-Md.) today announced $843,988 in federal funding for the City of Baltimore through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Fiscal Year 2020 Regional Catastrophic Preparedness Grants. The new funding will be used to develop “regional solutions” in response to catastrophic events, including preparing for pandemics. “This new federal funding will help strengthen Baltimore’s emergency preparedness and response efforts,” the lawmakers said in a statement, “With robust training and resources, city officials can quickly and effectively manage future crises by providing emergency health care services, food supplies, water, and shelter. We remain committed to securing federal support that builds resiliency in our communities and keeps Marylanders safe.”
Democrats have labored to make the case that Postmaster General Louis DeJoy knowingly acted as a henchman for President Donald Trump's designs on the U.S. Postal Service. But during a high-profile congressional hearing on Monday, they might have made a different point more successfully: that he doesn’t know what he’s doing…. “If you think you could implement the changes you did without the negative impact we’ve seen, then I worry about your judgment,” said Rep. John Sarbanes (D-MD), distilling the crux of Democrats’ general line of questioning that day. “And if you did understand what that impact would be, I’m concerned about your motives.”
Activists rallied outside the Towson post office Saturday in a show of support for the U.S. Postal Service. The event was one of more than 800 Save the Post Office demonstrations nationwide coordinated through political action group MoveOn and partner organizations. Indivisible Towson helped organize protests at the Towson and Timonium post offices…. As they were rallying in Towson, U.S. Rep. John Sarbanes (D-Maryland) was preparing to vote in support of the Delivering for America Act. Sarbanes accused DeJoy of "being quite evasive," and said: "We're trying to translate the voices of the people into action on Capitol Hill." The bill passed through the U.S. House of Representatives Saturday evening. The legislation calls for a $25 billion infusion to the U.S. Postal Service.
The Chesapeake Bay Trust, funded by the Maryland Chesapeake vehicle license plate among other sources, has introduced the newest class of its Chesapeake Conservation Corps members. This program was created by the Maryland Legislature to invest in the state’s young people, provide valuable job skills training, and promote the green economy in Maryland. The program matches young people ages 18-25 with non-profit and government organizations for one-year stipend-supported terms of service, focused on improving local communities and protecting natural resources. “The Chesapeake Conservation Corps helps instill critical leadership skills and inspire Maryland’s next generation of environmental stewards,” said Congressman Sarbanes. “I salute this year’s inductees and look forward to seeing their tremendous work to protect the health of the Chesapeake Bay.”
Because the mail is a cherished service to nearly every American, Democrats see Trump's attacks on the Postal Service as a winning issue for them. They say it is one they intend to hammer all the way through Election Day. Trump "grabbed the third rail here in terms of what people care about," said Rep. John Sarbanes, a Maryland Democrat who serves on a subcommittee that oversees the Postal Service.... Democrats on Capitol Hill and strategists preparing for down-ballot races across the country are seizing on the USPS fight as a messaging opportunity heading into November. Trump "got caught out here because he's the one who linked not wanting to help the Postal Service with the fact that he doesn't want people voting by mail, and I think when people heard that, my God, they said, 'You've got to be kidding,'" Sarbanes said. He said his office has been flooded with calls from constituents from his district, which includes Baltimore and Annapolis, worried about mail disruptions. The public is worried that dysfunction at the Postal Service is compromising shipments of medicine, Social Security checks, and other items that are critical to people, Sarbanes said.
A big week for the democratic party as the convention kicks off virtually from Milwaukee. Maryland representative John Sarbanes joins us to weigh in on the convention.
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Maryland's top-ranking Democrats gathered with union officials at a mail-sorting facility here Monday to decry delivery slowdowns as a threat to democracy and call on average citizens to take action.... an Hollen and Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) were joined Monday by Reps. Kweisi Mfume and John Sarbanes, Baltimore Mayor Bernard C. “Jack” Young, and Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson (Baltimore City), all Democrats. Each took a turn vilifying DeJoy as leading a sabotage campaign designed to undermine one of the country’s most well-regarded public institutions.... Added Sarbanes, “When you attack the Postal Service, you are attacking American families, plain and simple.”
Letter carriers, postal union officials and Maryland political leaders urged citizens Monday to rally behind the U.S. Postal Service, saying public pressure can help reverse significant cuts at an agency “under attack.” “We need everybody. We need to message it out,” said Sherry McKnight, president of American Postal Workers Union Local 181. McKnight said “I definitely think it would be of great impact” if people voiced their objections to recent cost-cutting moves that have caused a political firestorm in a presidential election year in which mailed ballots will play a critical role…. Also attending the news conference were U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin, Baltimore Mayor Bernard C. “Jack” Young and U.S. Reps Kweisi Mfume and John Sarbanes. All are Democrats. The party has broadly supported Pelosi’s call to bring the House back into session weeks early to confront the changes at USPS.