AG Ferguson files new lawsuit to stop far-reaching Postal Service rule changes.

ref. https://www.atg.wa.gov/news/news-releases/ag-ferguson-files-new-lawsuit-stop-far-reaching-postal-service-rule-changes

Changes mirror those Postal Service wanted ahead of the 2020 election that Ferguson successfully blocked in federal court

OLYMPIA — Attorney General Bob Ferguson partnered today with a coalition of states that will file a complaint with the Postal Regulatory Commission challenging drastic operational changes at the U.S. Postal Service that threaten critical mail delivery. These mirror changes Postmaster General and Trump-appointee Louis DeJoy intended to make before the 2020 election that Ferguson successfully blocked in federal court last fall.

The complaint details DeJoy’s failure to follow federal law in making harmful Postal Service changes. Ferguson asserts these major Postal Service changes, which range from eliminating working hours, slowing delivery of first-class mail and removing equipment, threaten the timely delivery of mail to millions of Americans who rely on the Postal Service for delivery of everything from medical prescriptions to ballots.

Ferguson led a coalition of 14 states ahead of the 2020 general election to prevent the Postal Service from making drastic changes that would have slowed election-related mail. A federal judge in Yakima specifically ordered the Postal Service to perform nightly sweeps for ballots in areas where data showed unacceptably low on-time delivery rates up to the weekend before Election Day. These slowdowns were prevalent in Michigan and Wisconsin, which were also swing states in the elections.

“Millions of Americans depend on the mail every day to receive their prescriptions, pay bills, receive Social Security checks, send rent payments and more,” Ferguson said. “One political appointee does not get to decide the fate of the Postal Service. There is a process that demands accountability from the American public for a reason — and I will fight to ensure the public gets a say.”

The lawsuit brought by 20 attorneys general demands the Commission thoroughly review DeJoy’s planned massive overhaul of operations. This will allow postal customers, including people living in Washington state, to provide comments during a hearing before the commissioners.

Although DeJoy has proposed sweeping changes throughout the postal system, he has thus far only asked the Commission to review two smaller components of the massive postal reorganization. Commissioners found DeJoy used models not “grounded in reality” and that failed to show how postal customers would be satisfied with changes to service standards of first-class mail.

On March 23, the Postal Service announced a ten-year strategic plan that would transform virtually every aspect of its operations. The changes include less air and more ground transportation, which the Postal Service has acknowledged will likely slow delivery times by as many as five days. While slowing delivery times, the Postal Service also plans increasing mailing costs to a yet undisclosed amount. DeJoy also seeks to reduce overtime and hours at an unknown number of post offices, and potentially close post offices and mail sorting facilities nationwide. 

Some of the changes are already underway, while others will take effect imminently — such as the changes in timing for first-class and media mail.

DeJoy’s changes spark protests in Redmond

Postal employees in Redmond are protesting the changes because the Postal Service could close a postal center there. The workers called the move part of DeJoy’s “Great Mail Slowdown” and asserted the closure of the center would slow down mail throughout the region. The protestors also criticized DeJoy’s strategy to curtail airmail and increase trucking, and mentioned his former ties to the trucking industry.

Impacts on seniors and veterans

Postal Service cuts threaten timely mail deliveries for a range of important services, from prescriptions to utility bills. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many Americans, especially seniors and other high-risk individuals, to rely increasingly on mail delivery services while they stay at home for their health. In general, seniors rely heavily on the mail to receive essentials like medications, Social Security benefits and even groceries.

The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, which provides broad health care services to veterans nationwide, fills about 80 percent of veteran prescriptions by mail. The VA processes about 120 million mail-order prescriptions per year — 470,000 a day. The Postal Service makes daily prescription deliveries to 330,000 veterans across the country.

Ferguson and his colleagues assert the overhaul of the Postal Service will slow delivery of these necessities.

Assistant Attorney General Andrew Hughes is Washington’s lead on this case.

Ferguson’s successful lawsuit against 2020 operational changes

In June 2020, the Postal Service implemented a series of major operational overhauls without first seeking an advisory opinion from the Commission.

In September 2020, a federal judge in Yakima blocked numerous changes it wanted to conduct ahead of the general election. The judge’s decision followed an August 2020 lawsuit that Ferguson led, and 14 other states partnered with, to stop the Postal Service from eliminating or reducing staff overtime, halting outgoing mail processing at state distribution centers and removing critical mail sorting equipment.

The complaint filed includes a report from the Postal Service’s Office of the Inspector General that found that the 2020 operational changes “resulted in a significant drop in the quality and timeliness of mail delivery,” and were “implemented without completing a study or analysis of the impact of the changes on mail service.”

Federal lawsuits filed since February 2021

This is the seventh lawsuit Attorney General Ferguson filed against the federal government since February 2021. Last month he filed four lawsuits against four federal agencies in the Biden administration over its failure to timely produce records related to the attempt to unlawfully close the National Archives Building in Seattle that serves the Pacific Northwest. He also partnered with other attorneys general on two environmental cases against the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and U.S. Energy Department.

IN OTHER STATE RELATED NEWS:

Former Spokane County worker arraigned on theft charge involving public dollars.

SPOKANE — A former Spokane County worker was arraigned today on charges that she fraudulently obtained $1.38 million from Spokane County by filing fictitious claims on behalf of 45 individuals over a 10-year period.

Governor’s Smart Communities Award winners honored for excellence in planning for growth and economic development.

“At the end of the day, it’s race”:  Task Force on Race and Justice Presents Findings on Unequal Treatment in WA Criminal Justice System

September 30, 2021

Let’s Talk About Hanford critters

Hanford Wildlife

Get ready to take a dive into the habitat and wildlife that call the Hanford Reach National Monument home for the next edition of our virtual Let's Talk About Hanford series – Hanford Wildlife. --DOE

Initial unemployment insurance claims for week of Sept. 26 - Oct. 2 2021.

OLYMPIA – During the week of September 26 to October 2, there were 4,814 initial regular unemployment claims, down 2.0 percent from the prior week. Total claims filed by Washingtonians for all unemployment benefit categories numbered 86,615 down 10.8 percent from the prior week. 

Public invited to Oct. 26 virtual coastal steelhead town hall .

OLYMPIA – Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife fishery managers are inviting the public to join them at 5 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 26, for a virtual town hall to gather feedback ahead of the 2021-2022 coastal steelhead season. It marks the second meeting in a suite of public engagement opportunities this fall. 

Statement from the Washington State Department of Health

OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) is aware of the recent death of a King County woman from a blood clot after receiving the J & J vaccine.

From our delegation to DC

Cantwell, Murray, Colleagues Reintroduce John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Patty Murray (D-WA) joined 47 of their colleagues in co-sponsoring the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. This legislation would restore the landmark 1965 Voting Rights Act, combat minority voter suppression, and help preserve the legacy of John Lewis—one of America’s greatest civil rights heroes.

Cantwell Says Action Needed to Stem Tide of ID Theft, Ransomware, and Security Breaches

Former FTC leaders, ID theft and cybersecurity experts say that it’s key for the FTC to have first time civil penalty authority.

Cantwell, Colleagues Call for West Coast Drilling Ban in Reconciliation Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) called on Senate leadership to include the West Coast Ocean Protection Act, which would prohibit new oil and gas drilling off the West Coast, in the Senate version of the budget reconciliation bill, which proposes historic investment in the nation’s physical and human infrastructure. 

Senator Murray Statement on Debt Ceiling Vote

“I’m glad Senator McConnell backed down from his completely unnecessary brinkmanship on paying our nation’s debts. I look forward to him doing the same thing in December, because as we have made abundantly clear, we are not entrusting the full faith and credit of the United States to a risky, complex legislative process that requires the cooperation of Senate Republicans—many of whom are reliably uncooperative.”

Senator Murray Secures Senate Confirmation of Tribal Court Judge Lauren King to Federal Bench in Washington State.

Top video this week

'HARMFUL CONTENT': How King Biden Is KILLING the Constitution | Glenn TV | Ep 142

 Former President Trump Holds Rally in Iowa

Former President Donald Trump speaks at a rally held at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in the state capital of Des Moines. He won the 2020 presidential race in Iowa, and is considered a top contender for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination.

feature video from C-SPAN

https://www.c-span.org/video/?515118-1/president-trump-holds-rally-iowa

IN THIS WEEKS EDITION

Page 2: Sharing Best Practices, Lessons Learned from Combating Terrorism, Sixth Committee Speakers Called for Whole-Society Solutions, as Debate on Global Threat Continues.

Page 3: A Proclamation on National School Lunch Week, 2021.

Page 4:  WDFW seeks public input on updates to recreational fishing rules.

Making Washington's prisons safer and more humane.

https://medium.com/wagovernor/making-washingtons-prisons-safer-and-more-humane-80e890c0d7e2

Clarification: On September 30, 2021, the Department of Corrections issued a press release announcing the end of disciplinary segregation. Some news outlets have reported that DOC is ending the use of all ‘solitary confinement.’ This has led to confusion, and the department feels it is important to clarify that it is ending the use of segregation, also known as solitary confinement, for disciplinary reasons only. The department continues to utilize segregation for non-disciplinary purposes such as investigations, safety, protective custody, and classification.

Since the 1980s, correctional systems have heavily relied on restrictive housing — also known as disciplinary segregation, isolation or solitary confinement. It was originally intended as a way to manage people who commit violence while incarcerated by restricting movement and privileges.

But in recent years, a growing body of research (such as the 2018 Southern Poverty Law Center’s report on solitary confinement), found excessive use of restrictive housing can harm the physical and mental health of people held in such conditions. The detrimental effects of disciplinary segregation can persist even after release. They can also create more obstacles for incarcerated people as they prepare to re-enter the community, since time in restrictive housing limits access to programs, re-entry preparation and positive social interaction.

Correctional leaders in Washington are aware of this phenomenon and are taking steps to make state prisons safer and more humane. As of Sept. 16, the Washington State Department of Corrections (DOC) stopped using disciplinary segregation agency-wide.

“This is indeed an historic moment in the department,” DOC Secretary Cheryl Strange said. “This is definitely a key step in becoming a human centered organization by advancing proven correctional practices and methods that support individuals in change. The science is clear on this and the science says stop doing it.”

The decision follows an agency approach to gather data to inform decisions whenever possible, and will consider new options to support positive and progressive outcomes.

“Disciplinary segregation has been proven to be ineffective in our state correctional facilities and ending their practice as a form of discipline is the right thing to do,” Gov. Jay Inslee said. “I’d like to thank Secretary Strange and the entire DOC team for their dedication to improving human-centered operations for incarcerated individuals.”

The DOC collected data over a one-year period (Sept. 1, 2019 to Aug. 30, 2020) to see whether disciplinary segregation was effective in addressing negative behavior.

The results found:

Approximately 2,500 disciplinary segregation sanctions were given during the year.

57% of those sanctions given were for non-violent infractions (1,441 of 2,525).

The average length of time given in segregation was 11 days for non-violent infractions and 16 days for violent ones.

The number of actual segregation days individuals served after a disciplinary hearing was very small. Most individuals who were given segregation had already been in Administrative Segregation awaiting their hearing and were given credit for time served and returned to general population.

Prison officials have also expressed dedication for finding alternative methods to deal with violent incidents including examining and modifying the classification process and referring incarcerated individuals for a custody demotion if necessary.

“We know a lot more now than we did years ago when our practices were designed,” says Mike Obenland, prisons assistant secretary. “We must continue to examine our processes and make meaningful changes that are both safe and humane. The data shows that the use of disciplinary segregation has many shortcomings, including failing to improve negative behavior.”

The department has been working with stakeholders on finding alternatives to restrictive housing for the past several years, including an ongoing partnership with Vera Institute of Justice. The partnership, known as Safe Prisons, Safe Communities: From Isolation to Dignity and Wellness Behind Bars, aimed to reduce the department’s use of restrictive housing by finding safer and more effective alternatives. Safe Prisons, Safe Communities launched in May 2019.

Vera has worked with correctional departments across America to help make changes to reduce restrictive housing. The current partnership with Washington has several goals, including eliminating the use of restrictive housing for vulnerable individuals, especially those with serious mental illness, improving living conditions and significantly reducing the length of overall time people spend in such housing.

“DOC is committed to safe and humane practices, where we address violent behavior when necessary, but do not use segregation as a form of discipline,” said Sean Murphy, DOC’s deputy secretary.

IN OTHER STATE HEADLINES:

ICYMI: Inslee letter to President Biden urges action for Point Roberts and border communities.

The letter comes after 18 months of border closures and repeated appeals from the governor to the Biden administration to provide relief to impacted Washington communities and businesses. Inslee also requested clarity from the administration on circumstances and conditions required for entry into the United States at the U.S.-Canadian border. 

Taking hornet nest removal to new heights.

Last week, WSDA’s Pest Program removed the third Asian giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia) nest of 2021, making it the fourth nest removed since the invasive hornet was first detected in Washington in December 2019. All of the nests have been in the same general area east of Blaine.

AG Ferguson: Reed Hein to pay $2.61 million to resolve timeshare exit scheme lawsuit.

The company retracts and apologizes for statements in response to the Attorney General’s lawsuit

OLYMPIA — Attorney General Bob Ferguson today announced that Kirkland-based timeshare exit company, Reed Hein & Associates LLC, must stop its deceptive timeshare exit practices and pay $2.61 million to Washington. If the company violates the terms of the consent decree, it will be required to pay an additional $19 million — a total judgment of $22 million. Reed Hein also retracted and apologized for statements made in response to the Attorney General’s lawsuit.

Coming soon: Working Washington grants for businesses impacted by U.S.-Canadian border closure.

OLYMPIA, WA — The Washington State Department of Commerce announced a new grant program that will launch Oct. 4 to help certain small businesses hurting due to the U.S.-Canada border closure. The border has been closed to most travelers since March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Statewide plastic bag ban begins Friday, Oct. 1

All Washington businesses providing single-use plastic bags to customers at checkout must comply with the new law.

Initial unemployment insurance claims for week of September 19 - 25, 2021.

OLYMPIA – During the week of September 19 to September 25, there were 4,914 initial regular unemployment claims, up 1.3 percent from the prior week. Total claims filed by Washingtonians for all unemployment benefit categories numbered 97,068 down 14.6 percent from the prior week.  

FROM OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO DC:

Kilmer, county commissioners secure grant for defense infrastructure project

U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer and the Kitsap County Board of Commissioners recently secured a $10 million federal grant for the Bangor/Keyport Forcemain Replacement project — which will help fund replacement of the sanitary sewer service force main break that supports Naval Base Kitsap–Bangor.

Wild Olympics Plan Passes House Again

Late last week, the Wild Olympics Wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers Act sponsored by Senator Patty Murray and Representative Derek Kilmer (D-WA-06), passed once again through the House of Representatives. 

At Hearing With Facebook Safety Head, Cantwell Says Children Need Stronger Protection from Digital Abuse, Harm

Comments come as Cantwell launches full court press to empower feds to fight digital abuses; hold tech companies accountable.

Cantwell, Colleagues Urge Biden to Create Two Specialized Positions to Address Humanitarian Crisis in Afghanistan

Cantwell-led letter calls on administration to create position in the White House and a special envoy at the State Department.

Senator Murray Calls on VA to Strengthen Mental Health Services as National Suicide Prevention Month Comes to a Close.

Washington, D.C.) – Yesterday, as National Suicide Prevention Month drew to a close, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) sent a letter to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Denis McDonough calling on him to continue strengthening VA’s  mental health services, including suicide prevention efforts, and improving access to these services. In the letter, Senator Murray noted that recent events, including the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, highlighted the need for continued support of veterans’ mental health.

Senator Murray Helps Pass Funding to Avoid Government Shutdown, Get Disaster Aid to Washington State Farmers, as Republicans Continue to Push U.S. Towards Default.

Senator Murray: “Today we were able to prevent a senseless government shutdown, help our Afghan allies and refugees resettle, and get relief to Washington state farmers and fishers who’ve been dealt one blow after another from the heat wave, to the drought, to a really tough wildfire season”

This weeks Edition

Page 2: Remarks at a UN Security Council Briefing on the Situation in the Middle East.

Page 3: Former Army Contractor Receives 151-Month Sentence for Fraud Scheme Targeting Thousands of U.S. Servicemembers and Veterans.

Page 4: WDFW lifts fire restrictions, including target shooting ban, on most Department-managed lands.

This week's video

Biden’s Border CRISIS: The Threat to America | Glenn TV | Ep 140.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEWoIxnBe2o