Postal benefits change not part of stimulus

We reported last week that Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del., introduced an amendment to the stimulus bill that would allow the Postal Service to pay its current retiree health benefits out of the trust fund earmarked for future retiree benefits. That change would help the Postal Service plug its budget deficit, expected to top $3 billion this year.

Well, Carper introduced the amendment four times — but it doesn’t seem to be part of the final stimulus bill passed by the Senate on Tuesday. The bil doesn’t mention the Postal Service at all.

Obviously, Congress can still pass separate legislation; H.R. 22, introduced by Rep. John McHugh, R-N.Y., would give the Postal Service the relief it’s looking for.