USPS on the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act

[vixenesque93]

So word has been going around that the government can now open our mail.

On January 4, 2007, the United States Postal Service put out this news release:

“As has been the longstanding practice, First Class Mail is protected from unreasonable search and seizure when in postal custody. Nothing in the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act changes this protection. The President is not exerting any new authority.”



Thomas Day, Senior Vice President, Government Relations


Link here.

Comments

[tzaddi-93.livejournal.com]

Nothing in the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act changes this protection.

Except the signing statement that Bush added exempting him from the law.

Re: signing statements

[wolfieboy.livejournal.com]

He's issued more signing statements than all other presidents combined…

Re: but what is unreasonable?

[wolfieboy.livejournal.com]

See this article where he specifically says that he can look at mail even though he's just signed a bill saying he can't:
Bush says feds can open mail without warrant

Specifically:

Bush asserted the new authority Dec. 20 after signing legislation that overhauls some postal regulations. He then issued a "signing statement" that declared his right to open mail under emergency conditions, contrary to existing law and contradicting the bill he had just signed, according to experts who have reviewed it.
Most of the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act deals with mundane changes. But the legislation also explicitly reinforces protections of first-class mail from searches without a court's approval.

Yet, in his statement, Bush said he will "construe" an exception, "which provides for opening of an item of a class of mail otherwise sealed against inspection in a manner consistent ... with the need to conduct searches in exigent circumstances."

Definitely seems to be disturbing. It also says it's the same legal reasoning for the warrantless eavesdropping which was determined to be wrong and where the snooping was in *much* more than exigent circumstances.

Re: but what is unreasonable?

[quetz.livejournal.com]

Who knew that he could read cue cards so well?

Re: but what is unreasonable?

[damiana-swan.livejournal.com]

Did he actually *say* "exigent circumstances", or is that just what his lawyer wrote into the signing statement for him? 'Cause all he has to do with that is sign it, and he probably does have that part down.

[quetz.livejournal.com]

And I trust America's postal workers to give a rodent's posterior about my mail security from the people who sign their own paychecks. That's why I'm going to use their highly reliable, efficient, and secure communications network in my plans to overthrow the United States government.