US lawmaker to introduce ‘anti-junk mail’ bill

This week at the State Capitol, lawmakers will consider a bill aimed at putting an end to unwanted junk mail.

Representative Sara Gagliardi is expected to introduce a bill that would create a “no junk mail list.”

She talked about her proposal Sunday afternoon on the steps of the Capitol. Under the measure, consumers could opt out of receiving junk mail.

If companies send mail to a person on the list, they would be fined.

Supporters say a junk mail ban would cut down on identity theft, possible fraud and help the environment.

“Junk mail makes it easy for criminals to steal our identity, money and our most private information,” said Gagliardi (D)-Arvada. “Most of all, junk mail is annoying.”

Others are worried about the economic impact.

“We have thousands of organizations in Colorado that effectively use the mail to advertise to their constituents, to their customers to promote and make their business viable,” said Al DeSarro, a spokesman for the U.S. Postal Service.

DeSarro says 50 percent of the mail they handle is direct marketing mail. If that is cut in half, the 11,000 postal employees in Colorado would be affected.

“This would be a devastating bill for the Postal Service,” said DeSarro.

If the measure passes, companies that violate the “no junk mail list” would face a USD500 fine per offense – similar to the penalty for those who violate the “no call list.”

Colorado is one of six states considering similar anti-junk mail proposals.