# The US Postal Service gives political contributions? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [September 19, 2022, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-postal-service-gives-political-contributions/971861 "2022-09-19T22:35:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-postal-service-gives-political-contributions/971861/1 "2022-09-19T22:35:03Z")
I was just reading abut the Republican running in my California state Assembly district, and saw that the US Postal Service contributed over $30,000 to his campaign. Is this a standard thing? Is this legal? ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-postal-service-gives-political-contributions/971861/2 "2022-09-19T22:35:30Z")
Cite? ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-postal-service-gives-political-contributions/971861/3 "2022-09-19T22:37:41Z")
> **[Josh Hoover](https://ballotpedia.org/Josh_Hoover)** > > Ballotpedia: The Encyclopedia of American Politics Scroll down a page or two and it gives a list of his contributors. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-postal-service-gives-political-contributions/971861/4 "2022-09-19T22:38:34Z")
I had no idea. Here are the numbers: > **[US Postal Service Profile: Totals](https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/us-postal-service/totals?id=D000030737)** > > US Postal Service organization profile: contributions by party of recipient, by source of funds, and affiliates. ---
**Author:** ![DeadTreasSecretaries](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deadtreassecretaries/32/4817_2.png) [@DeadTreasSecretaries](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadTreasSecretaries)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-postal-service-gives-political-contributions/971861/5 "2022-09-19T22:43:11Z")
Individuals means individual people who work for USPS are donating, correct? ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-postal-service-gives-political-contributions/971861/6 "2022-09-19T22:46:05Z")
No. I think that means contributions TO individuals (Candidates) as opposed to PACs and other groups. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-postal-service-gives-political-contributions/971861/7 "2022-09-19T22:46:14Z")
That’s not what the Ballotpedia page says, though. ---
**Author:** ![DeadTreasSecretaries](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deadtreassecretaries/32/4817_2.png) [@DeadTreasSecretaries](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadTreasSecretaries)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-postal-service-gives-political-contributions/971861/8 "2022-09-19T22:51:41Z")
Oh, you are correct, although I think the “from” is also almost entirely from individuals. If you look at the [summary page](https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/us-postal-service/summary?id=D000030737) the top recipients are listed as getting their contributions from individuals (which means “members, employees and owners”) except for $70 for some reason. > [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > That’s not what the Ballotpedia page says, though. It looks like ballotpedia lists USPS as a recipient of campaign expenses if I’m reading that right. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-postal-service-gives-political-contributions/971861/9 "2022-09-19T23:01:51Z")
> [@DeadTreasSecretaries](#): > > It looks like ballotpedia lists USPS as a recipient of campaign expenses if I’m reading that right. You’re right. It’s an obvious expense. I’m not sure what the site I linked to is referencing, though. Are the donors USPS employees? I don’t think I’ve ever been required to reveal my employer when making a political donation. Are postal employees (and perhaps government employees) specially required to do so? ---
**Author:** ![DeadTreasSecretaries](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deadtreassecretaries/32/4817_2.png) [@DeadTreasSecretaries](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadTreasSecretaries)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-postal-service-gives-political-contributions/971861/10 "2022-09-19T23:03:25Z")
I think yes, just based on what the summary page says. That seems a fair bit more likely than a constitutionally mandated government program donating to politicians lol. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-postal-service-gives-political-contributions/971861/11 "2022-09-19T23:05:12Z")
Yep. For example, here’s the pages for the [State of Florida](https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/state-of-florida/summary?id=D000037793) and the [US Dept of Justice.](https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/us-dept-of-justice/summary?all=2012&id=D000000628) Same deal. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2022, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-postal-service-gives-political-contributions/971861/12 "2022-09-20T00:48:24Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > That’s not what the Ballotpedia page says, though. The Postal Service is listed as a “Payee” on that page, along with what look like several advertising and consulting firms. They’re a vendor being paid for campaign mailings. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2022, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-postal-service-gives-political-contributions/971861/13 "2022-09-20T01:40:10Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > I don’t think I’ve ever been required to reveal my employer when making a political donation. You absolutely must reveal your employer when making a political donation over $200, by federal law. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2022, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-postal-service-gives-political-contributions/971861/14 "2022-09-20T03:03:00Z")
I must have done then (I’m self-employed) but I don’t remember it. ETA - I just checked the website I use ([actblue.com](http://actblue.com)) and I don’t see any such requirement as long as I’m not a Federal contractor. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2022, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-postal-service-gives-political-contributions/971861/15 "2022-09-20T04:07:28Z")
Funny, when I try to send money via actblue, it does ask my occupation and employer: > **[Beto for Texas | Donate now!](https://secure.actblue.com/donate/beto-for-texas-1)** > > Donate to help defeat Greg Abbott with everything on the line. (Click on pay with card, then you get the question about employment.) ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2022, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-postal-service-gives-political-contributions/971861/16 "2022-09-20T04:54:48Z")
> [@suranyi](#): > > You absolutely must reveal your employer when making a political donation over $200, by federal law. Cite: > **[Recording receipts - FEC.gov](https://www.fec.gov/help-candidates-and-committees/keeping-records/recording-receipts/)** > > FEC rules for candidates on keeping records of receipts, including time frames for forwarding contributions, recordkeeping for joint fundraising, contributions collected or credited to a lobbyist/registrant, and documenting efforts to investigate... > Contributions aggregating over $200 > > For each contribution that exceeds $200, either by itself or when added to the contributor’s previous contributions made during the same calendar year, records must identify that contribution by: > > - Amount; > - Date of receipt; and > - Contributor’s full name and mailing address, occupation and employer. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2022, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-postal-service-gives-political-contributions/971861/17 "2022-09-20T05:07:54Z")
It must ask somewhere during checkout. It’s been almost two years since I used it.