Those of us with families in other cities know what it’s like to try to defend the cost of living in San Francisco. My parents live in Alabama, and years ago, I stopped telling them what I pay for an apartment here. And I’ll bet the U.S. Postal Service wishes it had the option of keeping quiet about its San Francisco expenses right about now.

It seems an enterprising reporter in Atlanta dug up the cost of the upcoming conference of USPS executives at the Moscone Center: $2.2 million. Upon learning this, Georgia Republican Rep. Tom Graves fired off a letter to Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe calling the expense “extremely poor judgment” and demanding a “detailed justification” for the expense in light of the fact that the USPS is so broke that it is discontinuing Saturday letter service.

John Reyes, executive vice president of the San Francisco Travel Association, said canceling at such a late date would be very expensive and that the USPS has given no indication that it will alter its plans.

The House Oversight Committee is now threatening to hold a hearing about agency travel expenses. I’m sure if it convened the hearing in San Francisco, one serving of Michael Mina’s tuna tartare would constitute “detailed justification.” This also works for out-of-town family members.