Congressman Billy Long Fails to Take a Stand on Springfield Post Office

A couple months ago, Congressman Billy Long threatened to seal off his office from anyone who spread the "lie" that he wanted to privatize the United States Postal Service. The problem is, it wasn't a lie. In fact, looking back to a series of pledges Long signed while running for Congress, the Grover Norquist pledge shows Billy Long took the time to write out on paper that he wants to privatize the post office.


Billy Long's No Pork Pledge
Now caught in a political pickle, embarrassed because he was called out and hoping the matter goes away, Long isn't taking a side one way or the other to privatize or protect one of Springfield's postal facilities. Busplunge has the coverage:

Billy Long straddles the fence on Springfield USPS closing

and we all know what happens when you straddle a fence...

The Springfield News-Leader, in a story Deidre Shesgreen (Bill would spare Springfield mail center) reports from Washington:

WASHINGTON — The Springfield mail processing center would be spared from closing under legislation approved by the Senate on Wednesday to overhaul the U.S. Postal Service.

The Senate bill, passed by a 62 to 37 vote, does not include an outright ban on closing mail processing facilities. But it does include a provision that would bar the USPS from easing its current overnight delivery service requirement, which would have the effect of forcing the USPS to keep Springfield and about 100 other such facilities open.
“The Springfield facility provides good-paying jobs and vital services to the community, and I’m proud the bill the Senate passed would likely keep these folks at work and mail arriving in a timely fashion in the region,” said Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo.

Both Senators McCaskill and Blunt voted for the final bill. (at the bottom of this post you will find a link to what Billy really thinks of Roy Blunt.)

Shesgreen adds that "Rep. Billy Long, R-Springfield, hasn’t taken a position on either the House or the Senate bill. “All the proposals I’ve seen so far use conflicting numbers,” Long said. “I have tried for months to drill down with postal officials and get real numbers. Postal officials have been less than forthcoming to all of my questions to date.”

Of course Billy Long hasn't taken a position on either bills--- these bills would save the Springfield Postal Service Center which is counter to Billy's position, as delineated by his own words, has been all along to privatize the USPS---

On June 10, 2010 Long signed his name signifying his agreement with this statement: "I will support legislation aimed at protecting taxpayers by privatizing government-sponsored corporations and enterprises such as the United States Postal Service, the housing government-sponsored enterprises such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and the Tennessee Valley Authority."

Further, Long added the following handwritten comment: "Entities like the USPS,Fannie and Freddie are proven economic failures that operate at losses constantly. Service and profitability would be enhanced by privatization."

When reminded of his position on privatization, Long said, "You catch a lot more flies with honey than you do with vinegar. So, when you tell stories about me through some of your representatives that I want to privatize the Postal Service, which is an out and out lie, that doesn't help you any with me or my office. So...."

In the later part of March, 2012, Rep. Billy Long’s office issued a statement from the congressman  indicating the congressman was supportive of keeping the USPS facility in Springfield open and running at capacity.

“I am deeply disappointed with the decision by the United States Postal Service,” Long stated. “As I have said all along, I want to make sure the Springfield Processing and Distribution Center got a fair shake during the evaluation process. I do not believe it did.”Long indicated he has a number of questions about the closing plan.

“I am not pleased with the Postal Service’s process and their apparent lack of care and concern,” Long commented. “I still have many questions left unanswered, such as why the Postal Service wants to close a facility in the fastest growing part of the state, and that is why I have asked the Postal Service Inspector General to conduct an investigation."

http://bus-plunge.blogspot.com/2012/03/congressman-billy-long-is-liar-date-set.html

Hot diggity dog, Billy, hot diggity dog!

btw-- the Washington Post quoted our congressman "Just call me Billy" in a story earlier this week that didn't seem to fit in the local papers:

Summing up the attitude of many freshmen, Rep. Billy Long (R-Mo.), a former auctioneer, reportedly told lobbyists early last year that party elders such as Boehner and Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), a former House leader, should not be trusted. “John Boehner and Roy Blunt are what’s wrong with Washington,” he said. Bret Funk, Long’s spokesman, said Sunday: “Rep. Long denies this incident ever took place and has nothing but the utmost respect for both Speaker Boehner and Senator Blunt.”

http://bus-plunge.blogspot.com/2012/04/billy-longs-explanation-of-why-he-gave.html