NAPS Chat

By Bob LeviNews Politics

NAPS Chat episodes

December 08, 2023 Episode 199 December 8, 2023 -- 2023 Year End Legislative Action
National Association of Postal Supervisors Executive Vice
President Chuck Mulidore joins Bob to discuss important legislative and Postal Service operational issues that deeply concern key members of Congress. Among the items discussed is legislation introduced by Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which strives to better protect postal employees from escalating assaults while delivering the mail and to safeguard postal assets. In addition, Bob and Chuck talk about mounting congressional and USPS Board of Governors' concern about falling on-time first-class mail performance across the nation, testimony offered to the House Ways and Means Committee by former NAPS President Louis Atkins and current NAPS Auxiliary Secretary Treasurer Bonita Atkins regarding the Social Security Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset, and the upcoming 2024 NAPS legislative conference in Washington.

29 min
November 09, 2023 Episode 198 November 10, 2023 -- "What's New in FEHBP for 2024"
The "open season" for choosing a Federal Employees Health Benefits Plan (FEHBP) option runs from November 13 thru December 12. The choices are numerous and stakes are high. For the fifth year in a row, Bob is being joined by Jay Fritz, the Office of Personnel Management executive tasked with coordinating the FEHBP open season. Jay and Bob discuss what's new for active and retired postal and federal employees in the FEHBP environment. In addition, they discuss what's driving premium increases and benefit changes.

28 min
October 27, 2023 Episode 197 October 27 2023 -- "Exit Interview with Former PRC Commissioner Mark Acton
A few weeks ago, Mark Action left the Postal Regulatory Commission with two decades of engagement with the postal community under his belt. Over a cup of coffee at local Washington, DC, coffee house, Mark shares with Bob his reflections about serving on the PRC and the agency's importance to ensure transparency, accountability and performance.

26 min
October 06, 2023 Episode 196 October 6, 2023 -- "An Oy Vey" Week for the House of Representatives
It appeared that the Statute of Freedom, which is sits atop the Capitol, needed scaffolding to stabilize it in the wake of the U.S. House of Representatives’ shutdown, resulting from the removal of Rep. Kevin McCarthy as Speaker. During this week's episode of NAPS Chat, Bob discusses the “House shutdown,” the overwhelming passage of a temporary government funding bill that sealed McCarthy’s fate, Senate confirmation of Robert Taub and Thomas Day to the Postal Regulatory Commission, a recent Postal Inspector General report on mail theft, and two pending U.S. Supreme Court cases that may have implications for the Postal Service, as well as other federal agencies.

14 min
September 22, 2023 Episode 195 September 22, 2023 -- "Moving the Mail"
During this week's episode of NAPS Chat, Smithsonian Institution Postal Museum Curator Lynn Heidelbaugh joins Bob to talk about U.S. mail transportation. One of the major components of the Delivering for American Plan is shifting from air transport to ground movement of letters and packages. Moving the Mail, is an ongoing exhibit at the National Postal Museum, which traces the evolution of mail transport. So, it would instructive to examine the reasons for different modes of mail movement. In addition, Bob talks about the nomination of former USPS Senior Vice President of Government Relations Thomas Day to the Postal Regulatory Commission and his recent confirmation hearing.
29 min
September 08, 2023 Episode 194 September 8 , 2023 -- "Your Encore Career"
During this week's episode of NAPS Chat, Government Executive
columnist and founder of "Retire Federal" Tammy Flanagan joins Bob to
talk about the growing number of USPS retirees who seek post-retirement employment. Tammy and Bob talk about issues that such retirees ought to consider when embarking on an "encore career." Bob also shares news relating to the September 7 Senate confirmation hearing of PRC Commissioner Robert Taub, and regulatory updates relating to the Delivering for America plan.
27 min
August 11, 2023 Episode 193 August 11, 2023 -- "Postal Commerce 2023"
During this week's episode of NAPS Chat, President and Chief Executive
Officer of the Association for Postal Commerce Michael Plunkett joins
Bob to talk about the role that PostCom plays in the postal space, and the current state of postal finances and operations.

28 min
July 28, 2023 Episode 192 July 28, 2023 -- "NAPS' Disciplinary Defense Fund -- Valuable Insurance"
During this week's episode of NAPS Chat, NAPS Executive Vice President
Chuck Mulidore joins Bob to talk about the National Association of
Postal Supervisors' Disciplinary Defense Fund and how this "insurance policy" protects the interests of postal supervisors, managers and postmasters.

24 min
July 14, 2023 Episode 191 July 14, 2020 -- "Postal Oversight on Capitol Hill"
During this week's episode of NAPS Chat, Rep. Pete Session, chairman of the House Oversight and Accountability Subcommittee on Government Operations and the Federal Workforce joins Bob to talk about his perspective on Postal Service operations and his role as chairman of the subcommittee having jurisdiction over the agency. In part, Chairman Sessions reflects on his recent oversight hearing, at which Postmaster General Louis DeJoy testified.

23 min
June 16, 2023 Episode 190 June 16, 2023 -- "Postal Transparency & Accountability"
During this week's episode of NAPS Chat, Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) Member Ann Fisher joins Bob to talk about the importance of U.S. Postal Service transparency and accountability, and how the PRC plays a constructive and necessary role in striving to meet those dual goals. Ann and Bob also discuss the
different tools the PRC has as its disposal to cast light on particular aspects of postal finances and operations.

24 min

About NAPS Chat

From the publisher's feed

NAPS Chat is a weekly podcast intended to inform NAPS members and others interested in the U.S. Postal Service about the latest legislative and political goings-on within our nation’s capital. Hosted…