Does this postal chairman’s lobbying history pose a conflict of interest?
The U.S. Postal Service has the potential to earn billions of dollars a year by entering the payday-loan business, but former banking lobbyist Mickey Barnett could block its path.
Barnett now chairs the USPS Board of Governors. Previously, he represented the interests of payday lenders, who stand to lose out if the Postal Service grabs a share of their market.
The question now is whether Barnett would support the Postal Service entering the loan business, a move that would give the agency an influx of cash after eight straight years of multibillion-dollar losses. On the flipside, he might oppose such a change because of his old ties to the banking industry.
see more from the Washington Post
Congress has potentially found a new way to constrict USPS: hamstring the agency by taking away its ability to make any major decisions whatsoever.
In addition to the postmaster general and his deputy, any significant proposal affecting postal operations must be cleared by the agency’s board of governors. Of the nine presidentially appointed, Senate-confirmed positions, only four are currently filled.
Absent congressional action, that number will fall to three on Dec. 8, and the board will lose its voting quorum. Board Chairman Mickey Barnett, a Republican and former senator from New Mexico, will be forced to step aside next week. His term officially ended Dec. 8, 2013, but current law has allowed him to stay on for one extra year.
Because Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe and Deputy Postmaster General Ronald Stroman are counted as members of the governing board, six of the 11 positions are filled. If Barnett — who President Obama has re-nominated — is not confirmed by Dec. 8, the board will no longer have the majority it needs to approve anything.
PostalReporter.com has been covering this issue for the past few months
USPS Board Of Governors May Have Only 3 of 11 Members By End Of Year – July 6, 2014
President Obama nominated Victoria Reggie Kennedy (wife of the late Senator Edward “Ted” Kennedy) (D), David M. Bennett (D), James C. Miller III (R) and Stephen Crawford (D) and Mickey Barnett (R). All five nominees were confirmed by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. In October Obama also nominated David S. Shapira –who is still waiting on confirmation by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.
Earlier this month, “Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, spoke on the Senate floor urging his colleagues to support the critical nominations approved by the committee and waiting for consideration on the full Senate floor.” Carper: If USPS Board of Governors nominees not confirmed soon=No quorum=No postal business
Mr. Barnett is among a group of five bipartisan nominees to the Postal Board of Governors – two Republicans and three Democrats. If we don’t confirm Mr. Barnett and his colleagues by December 8th, Mr. Barnett – currently the Board’s chairman – would be forced the leave the Board. If that happens, the Board will no longer have enough members to achieve a quorum and won’t be able to conduct business. At a time when the Postal Service is struggling to address a number of financial challenges and to adapt to the digital age, this would be an avoidable disaster.
It is surprising that GOP Senate members, reportedly, are holding up confirmation of the nominees. Both David Bennett (D), and Stephen Crawford (D) share some of the same views of James C. Miller III (R) and Mickey Barnett (R) on the future of USPS. Bennett, at his confirmation hearing back in July said that he supports USPS’ proposal of transferring eligible postal employees to Medicare, downsizing, reducing USPS network (consolidations) and USPS operating like a private business . Crawford echoed some of those same sentiments. Kennedy said she did not have enough information on the the subject of switching employees to Medicare.
In every Senate hearing regarding the nomination of Miller (R) to the Board of Governors –his views on privatizing USPS takes center stage? Does Miller still hold the view that USPS should be privatized? Yes and No. During his confirmation hearing Sen. Susan Collins asked Miller if he still holds the view that USPS should be privatized, this is what he said :
Miller also would like to explore the idea of hiring college students (similar to FedEx) during high peak seasons. And finally, Miller along with Carper would like for USPS to look into expanding the ‘Staples concept’ (this idea was discussed before all of the Staples protests). The plan would pay postmasters of these revamped offices $15 per hour instead of a $50,000 -$60,000 annual salary.
So what is the problem in confirming all of the nominees? Who knows!
The USPS Board Of Governors next meeting is this Friday, December 5, in what could possibly be its last chance to conduct USPS business.
With the current malfeasance and destructive path the current BOG and Donahoe and his lackies have been pursuing, it’s not really much of a surprise that Congress could take away authority from the USPS. After being lied to (there’s an irony for you – members of Congress not liking being lied to) so many times and knowing how incomplete and half assed the “studies” conducted by the USPS always are, one can understand why they might be tempted to wrestle control away at least until competent people are appointed, but that’s a long shot.
And with Republican majorities, we don’t want to have an even higher risk of shutting down plants and curtailing service. It’s a good thing nobody in Congress apparently is interested in privatization. That’s because the USPS is run so poorly they wouldn’t make money, and no other reason. Plus, the Constitution is very hard to fuck with, which may be the saving grace for all postal employees and customers alike.
We need to see indictments handed down to Donahoe and all those in upper level idiocy who allowed the cyber attack to go on unabated for almost a year. I have talked to a certain congressional aide who told me the FBI is investigating and that there is a chance of filing criminal charges. He also told me nobody in Congress believes Donahoe or the security chief just happened to retire and resign with no connection to the hacking incident.
Let’s get rid of these liars and embezzling crooks and get management that will be straight up and not lying to us under the assumption we’re all a bunch of damned idiots who believe anything we’re told. Fat chance, but making demands will put some pressure on those who want to succeed Fatso and his corrupted minions.
If the fools do that ~~ better get out now!
this is perfect, because we all know that CONGRESS BLOWS!!!