A few weeks ago I posted a copy of the letter I sent to my two United States Senators – Elizabeth Warren and Edward Markey – about the need for the Senate to confirm the nominees to the U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors. In addition to the blog, I sent them the letter through their website, posted a link on Twitter and mailed them a physical letter through the U.S. Postal Service.
A week later, I received a phone call from Senator Markey’s office. His aide didn’t mention any of the electronic methods I used to communicate, but told me he was responding to the letter they had received. Hmm, a physical letter garnered more attention than a blog, email or tweet. Interesting.
The aide stressed that the senator was taking the issue seriously, and had testified at Ms. Kennedy’s nomination hearing. He said that Senator Markey had spoken to the Majority Leader – Senator Reid – and asked for the nominations be brought to the floor for a vote. Unfortunately, the opposition was holding up the vote. He said that Senator Reid felt that the nominations could get approved during the lame duck session.
This conversation was the week before the elections, but the polls weren’t looking good for the Democrats. I asked the aide that if several Republicans had already stated that the Congress should not approve nominations during the lame duck session - why would anyone think otherwise? He replied that those comments were about judges and cabinet-level positions. We chatted a bit more, and the call ended.
Of course, the elections went very bad for the Democrats. The new chair of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, which oversees the US Postal Service, will be a Republican. They may ask for the nominations to be put on hold until the new committee is formed. It’s not an easy call.
However, I did receive a response. From my physical letter. The power of mail endures.
