U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis is speaking out against President Trump's threat to withhold funding from the U.S. Postal Service over mail-in voting.
Speaking Thursday on The 21st show, Davis called the president’s comments "frustrating," adding that U.S Postal Service workers serve an important role in communities across the 13th Congressional District he represents.
“I believe in the postal service. As a matter of fact, (it) is the lifeline between many of the small rural communities I serve, and the ability for them to get outside mail service is crucial to many of those communities continuing to thrive," said Davis, a Taylorville Republican who represents parts of Bloomington-Normal.
Davis said he urges the Trump Administration to accept an increased investment in the postal service.
However, he also has concerns with the mail-in ballot system, arguing that voters should be required to apply in order to vote by mail.
Trump on Thursday attempted to soften remarks he had made hours earlier in which he appeared to confirm that he opposes Democrats' proposed boost in funding for the U.S. Postal Service because he wants to make it harder to expand voting by mail, claiming his only goal in denying the agency funds is to ensure the integrity of the Nov. 3 election.
Davis' Democratic challenger, Betsy Dirksen Londrigan, called Trump's comments "truly horrible."
"(Davis) must stand up to this administration and stop this attack on the USPS," Londrigan tweeted Thursday. "We must ensure the USPS has the resources to provide its vital services to our communities, including allowing voters to cast their ballots safely."
Meanwhile, election officials are seeking clarification from the Postal Service about how recent cutbacks will affect what's expected to be an avalanche of mail-in voting in the upcoming election. Changes in postal operations already have led to mail delays across the country, raising alarms about what will happen in November.
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