Thursday, April 26, 2012

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

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thank you for shining a light on Billy. His pandering to conservatives in speeches contrasts with his votes on capitol hill. He is a shill for those with deep pockets and to hell with his constituents and his country. I'm hoping he is only our rep for one term then back to relative obscurity.

rangem said...

pooooooor fence

Timeshare Jake said...

Maybe if Billy spent less time going to Vegas on special interest's dime he might actually have time to get those numbers. How many trips to Vegas have you been on Congressman Long over the past year?

Billy Long panders to decepticons. True conservatives don't buy his crap.

Anonymous said...

How is anybody ever going to get run-a-way spending under control at USPS and all other federal spending?

I mean come on Bungalow Bill, it ain't gonna be you. Don't look like it is going to be Roy or Claire either.

Looks like poor old Billy is our last hope, and, I know that really gives you a rash. You may need to get some of that baby salve called No Monkey Butt, or something like that.

Anonymous said...

It has been the Republicans plan to bankrupt the postal service for the past five years.

The "fiscal crisis" was created solely by poison-pill legislation passed 5 years ago by a Republican Congress and signed by President Bush that required the Post Office – unlike any other company or government agency – to prefund 75 years worth of employee health benefits in a 10 year period.

Privatization is the $$$corporate way$$$

And it's the Billy way too.

Timeshare Jake said...

@Anonymous 9:05 Do you know why their is runaway spending at the Post Office? The Post Office used to run in the black. It never relied on one dime of tax payer money, and then Congress raided it's retirement pensions and it has run in the red. The Post Office isn't necessarily broken, and it is also Constitutional. The problem is Congress is broken and fails to adhere to the Constitution spending any dime it can get its hands on and this includes Republicans.

If Billy is your last hope, you must be a sad individual. As Billy Long sits on the fence unable to take a stand, he did support big government yesterday by voting to give the federal government and the Obama administration more power to police the Internet including 4th Amendment violating background checks for people the government deems a threat.

Anonymous said...

Yes BB, I'm well aware of the problems in the USPS. I don't need a frustrated blogger lecturing me on government spending. It's pretty simple to most folks.

1. 4-day RFD delivery.
2. Up the junk mail charges.
3. More PO Boxes in city & rural.
4. Close nonessential facilities.
5. Bye-bye Saturday services.

You're like water off a duck's back to Billy. He's the Congressman and I'd vote against him if he ever took your advice on anything.

Heard Billy speak one time. He quoted Reagan, "Government's first duty is to protect the people, not run their lives."

I agree with Billy

Timeshare Jake said...

Sounds like you agree with Ronald Reagan since it was Reagan who said it. Long is good at the sound bite, but his Congressional record, it shows Billy Long believes more in government than a free people.

Judging from Jim's blog, Billy doesn't even know what he is saying. It depends on who he is in front of on what he says.

I could quote Obama all day long, doesn't mean I believe it. And I don't.

Anonymous said...

"Heard Billy speak one time. He quoted Reagan, "Government's first duty is to protect the people, not run their lives."

I agree with Billy"

Billy doesn't channel the Gipper, or anyone else for that matter. Clever isn't his strong suit.

Billy has clearly demonstrated that it is his "duty" to follow the pack and screw women with government regulations at every turn.

Wonder if that's what he meant when he babbled "Get Pelosi" incessantly during his campaign.

Timeshare Jake said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Timeshare Jake said...

The only real advice I give Billy Long is follow the Constitution and not the Republican establishment. I don't know who you are anonymous, but I am pretty sure George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison would agree. That's pretty good company over someone who won't even share their name in this conversation.

Anonymous said...

Is anyone babbling on this thread interested on reducing the amount of money being lost by USPS?

If you folks don't like Billy Long, run against him.

I've got friends who will lose their job if the Springfield facility closes. I hate it for most of them but there are at least three of them who do very little work and have used/abused the union to protect them for years. Good ridance to them. And, Stanley, you know you are one of them.

Bushwacker said...

That's really devastating! He must walk the talk.


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