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POST OFFICE TRIES TO DESTROY OUR PAC

Was it deliberate or was it just gross incompetence? Our political action committee, Government Is Not God, received virtually no mail in April and May of this year. I found out why on May 23rd during a stunning conversation with a postal employee. Here is the history of what occurred:

On November 11, 2001 we paid the proper fees for our business reply account number 460-001 at the counter of the Washington, DC post office. After payment was made, a copy of the receipt was sent by fax to the business reply section to assure it was posted. We knew there might be some confusion because of the Anthrax situation at the Brentwood post office where business reply mail is normally handled. We then called the business reply section to make sure the copy of the receipt was received. We were told that it was received and posted.

For the next six months we received the political action committee business reply mail on an irregular basis. We complained to the post office several times. At no time did they inform us of any problem. Beginning the first of April we stopped receiving all business reply mail, even mail on which our supporters had placed stamps. We called the business reply section of the post office on numerous occasions, as often as twice a week to ascertain any problem. At no time did anyone in the post office indicate there was a "problem" with our account. After all, we had deposited hundreds of dollars in our business reply account from which postage was to be taken as mail arrived from supporters.

On May 23rd our bookkeeping department once again called to make sure we had sufficient funds in our account and Mrs. Contee of the business reply section told her that indeed there was no problem. I then called Mrs. Contee myself and asked her if there was "any problem with the account at all." She immediately responded that the "permit fee had not been paid," and that our mail was being withheld from us. Her failure to tell anyone in our office who had called during the six previous weeks that there was a problem with this account shows a complete lack of respect for customers and total job irresponsibility or a deliberate attempt to harm the conservative political action committee.

That day we sent by fax again a copy of the receipt showing that indeed we did pay the fee in November of 2001 and further requested written explanation as to what had happened to our mail. The supervisor in the department, Mrs. Shields, did not respond. When we called her office again, she informed my staff that she, "Did not have the capability to respond in writing." She has since refused to give any explanation as to what happened in her department.

I forwarded all material involved with this total breakdown at the post office to Congressman Ernest Istook (R-OK) who sits on the committee overseeing the United States Postal Service. Congressman Istook has worked with me for years on returning prayer to our schools. I am seeking Congressional hearings in this matter .

On May 29th my political action committee began to receive some mail. Some of the envelopes we received were postmarked as far back as March. For all mail dated in April and May there was less than $5,000 total contributed to Government Is Not God -PAC. In analyzing the postmarks and contribution dates we believe that in certain weeks our mail was simply destroyed.