NAPS Chat

Steve Hutkins, the administrator and founder of the "Save the Post Office" website joins  Bob Levi on NAPS Chat to discuss the website's popularity, purpose and impact. Bob and Steve talk about the role that  Steve's labor of love has played in the postal narrative and analysis. In addition, Bob discusses two postal bills approved this week by the House Committee on Oversight & Refor...

National Association of Postal Supervisors President Brian Wagner joins Bob Levi on NAPS Chat to discuss a luncheon meeting held this week with the U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors, the recently announced USPS reduction-in-force, the start of EAS Pay talks, and the upcoming 2021 NAPS National  Convention in Texas.

Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) joins Bob Levi on NAPS Chat to talk about postal performance, legislative efforts to sustain the agency and his perspective on the future of the Postal Service. The congressman introduced H.R. 2230 , the so-called DeJoy Act, which is intended to maintain current postal service standards. Rep. Krishnamoorthi is a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform,...

NAPS Executive Vice President Ivan Butts joins Bob Levi on NAPS Chat to talk about this week's U.S. Senate confirmation hearing on the three pending presidential nominees to the U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors (former Deputy Postmaster General Ron Stroman, former APWU General Counsel Anton Hajjar, and National Vote at Home Institute CEO Amber McReynolds). In addition, Ivan and Bob review th...

NAPS Legislative Chairs Jimmy  Salmon (AZ) and Steve Shawn (MD), NAPS Branch 157 Legislative Chair Angie Hicks (NC), and NAPS member Carl Walton join Bob Levi on NAPS Chat to talk about preparation for NAPS' 2021  Legislative Training Seminar (LTS). The 2021 NAPS LTS will take place on April 18 and will be  followed by "living room lobbying" by NAPS members.

American Enterprise Institute Resident Scholar Kevin Kosar joins Bob Levi to explore the Postal Service's mission-shift in light of the Postmaster General's and Postal Board of Governors' week-old 10-year strategic plan. Kevin and Bob also discuss a number of the plan's legislative and operational proposals. Kevin Kosar formerly served as vice president at the R Street Institute and analyst at the...

National Association of Postal Supervisors Secretary Treasurer Chuck Mulidore joins Bob Levi to review aspects of the recently unveiled USPS Ten-Year Strategic Plan.

National Association of Postal  Supervisors Vice President Ivan Butts joins Bob Levi to promote the  2021 "Virtual" Legislative Training Seminar, to  be held on Sunday, April 18. Ivan and Bob encourage NAPS member to register online by early April and preview the LTS' confirmed speakers: Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Chairman Gary Peters, House Government Operati...

Jay Hibbard, Senior Vice President of Government Relations for the Distilled Spirits Council of  the U.S. (DISCUS), and Bob discuss the emerging importance of the U.S. Postal Service to the alcoholic beverage industry. DISCUS is the national trade association representing leading producers and marketers of distilled spirits products in the U.S. Jay and Bob speak about the distilled spirits in...

Art Sackler, the executive director of the Coalition for a 21st Century Postal Service, and Bob discuss prospects for postal restoration legislation, and the mailers' coalition perspective on postal performance and rate-setting.

NAPS National President Brian  Wagner and Bob discuss President Biden's nomination of 3 individuals to fill current vacancies on the USPS Board of Governors, the February 24 House Oversight and Reform Committee postal hearing and the testimony NAPS submitted , and NAPS' new campaign to secure COVID-19 vaccines for postal employees .

National Association of Postal Supervisors Executive Vice President Ivan Butts and Bob discuss the increasingly aggressive congressional oversight of the U.S. Postal Service, a Presidents' Day NAPS Legislative Chairs Zoom meeting, new members of the House and Senate committees having jurisdiction over the agency, and the upcoming virtual Legislative Training Seminar.

Newly-elected  Rep. Mondaire Jones (D-NY) and Bob discuss the congressman's successful pre-election federal lawsuit against the U.S. Postal Service that, in part, made possible successful absentee ballot operations in  fall 2020 and reversed a number of USPS' summertime operational changes. In addition, the court ruling (Jones, et.al. v. USPS) lifted a veil of secrecy surrounding postal...

During this week's episode of  NAPS Chat, Greeting Card Association Vice President for Public Affairs  Rafe Morrissey and Bob discuss the challenges and opportunities confronting the greeting card industry, as it collaborates with other postal stakeholders in pursing postal legislation and dealing with the pandemic. Rafe also talks about the unique value that greeting cards bring to the...

During  this week's episode of NAPS Chat, Jim Sauber discusses his experience  as a member of President Biden's Presidential Transition Team for  the U.S. Postal Service. Jim talks about the Transition Team's mission, as well as how the 4-member team approached their task and developed recommendations for the new president. Also, Jim references how the Postal Transition Team worked...

During  this week's episode of NAPS Chat, Representative Andy Levin (D-MI)  Bob talk about the presidential transition and his experience  during the recent attack on the U.S. Capitol. Also, the congressman discusses Michigan's experience with absentee balloting during the 2020 general election  and postal performance. Finally, Rep. Levin and Bob talk about the congressman's po...

During this week's episode of  NAPS Chat, National Association of Postal Supervisors Executive Vice President Ivan Butts and Bob discuss the postal mention at President Trump's January 6 rally, recent court-ordered postal performance data, advice for President-elect Biden and congressional leaders, and expectations for a re-imagined NAPS Legislative Training Seminar.

During  this week's episode of NAPS Chat, Rep. Jason Crow and Bob discuss the impact the Postal Service has on his congressional district, the country and his engagement with postal issues. The conversation was  recorded prior to Rep. Crow's heroic efforts to secure the House of Representatives chamber and  protect his colleagues from the seditious mob that desecrated the U.S. Capit...

During  this week's episode of NAPS Chat, Berkshire Company President and Chief  Executive Officer Mark Fallon and Bob discuss the challenges  confronting the postal marketplace, Mark's insight regarding election  mail, and how the Mailers Technical Advisory Committee (MTAC) plays a role in influencing  postal policy. In addition, Mark and Bob discuss the recent "final &nb...

During this week's episode of NAPS Chat, after a 230-year absence, America's first Postmaster General, Benjamin Franklin, returns to respond to an  open letter Bob wrote him. The letter appeared in the December issue of the Postal Supervisor . Former PMG Franklin and Bob discuss the state of the United States postal system and other legacy issues of interest to "the First American." (Consider...

During this week's episode of  NAPS Chat, Chuck Mulidore, National Association of Postal Supervisors  Secretary Treasurer, joins Bob to discuss  the possible timeline for upcoming pay consultations with the U.S. Postal Service, other issues of importance to postal EAS level employees, and the  continued postal role in delivering democracy for the State of Georgia in the January...

During  this week's episode of NAPS Chat, Jay Fritz, chief of the Office of  Personnel Management's Outreach and Program Services joins Bob to discuss the 2020 Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) Open  Season. Jay and Bob discuss what's new in 2021 for FEHBP, what factors to take into  account when selecting an FEHBP plan, FEHBP tax-preferred flexible spending acc...

During  this week's episode of NAPS Chat, Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), chairwoman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, joins Bob to discuss her committee's postal oversight priorities, pending postal legislation, and what to anticipate in 2021. Rep.  Maloney chairs the House of Representatives committee with jurisdiction over the U.S. Postal Service. She was first elected to Cong...

During  this week's episode of NAPS Chat, Congressman Sam Graves of Missouri joins Bob to discuss the importance of the Postal Service to his rural  Missouri congressional district, Missouri's experience with absentee  balloting in the recent election, and what the Postal Service needs from Congress in 2021. Rep.  Graves is completing his 10th term representing a rural Missouri...

During this week's episode of  NAPS Chat, NAPS President Brian Wagner and Bob discuss USPS performance  in conveying ballots on behalf of American  voters, and Brian's reflections as a member of the USPS National  Election Task Force and his recommendations for the USPS' role in future elections.