The wind-up has taken a while, but the full Senate might–just might–pitch into a major debate on postal issues next week.
Earlier today, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., introduced a motion that would allow senators to take up the bill, known as the 21st Century Postal Service Act, as early as Monday. Although everything in the Senate (and we mean everything) is subject to change, Reid presumably wouldn’t have proceeded without some chance of having the votes to kick off debate.
At the same time, it’s worth noting that Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., isn’t commenting. Lawmakers could also have to placate Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., who announced today that she’ll seek to block consideration of the bill over concerns about how the U.S. Postal Service is handling the proposed closure of a mail processing plant in her state.
For FedLine readers who need a refresher, the measure was introduced last fall by Sens. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., Susan Collins, R-Maine, Tom Carper, D-Del., and Scott Brown, R-Mass. A major draw is the provision that would permit the Postal Service to spend part of a refund on excess contributions into the Federal Employees Retirement System on incentives to encourage up to 100,000 workers to retire or quit. The bill would also give the financially strapped mail carrier a big break on the current requirement to pay about $5.5 billion per year into a retiree health care fund.
Politically speaking, perhaps, so far, so good. The Postal Service can’t make the retiree health fund payments anyway and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle like the idea of using early retirements or buyouts to encourage folks to leave on their own.
But the bill contains some other provisions likely to spur—to put it nicely—spirited discussion. Under the legislation, for example, the Postal Service could end most Saturday delivery in two years if it proves to independent reviewers that there is no other way to achieve “sustainability.” Postal unions are opposed and—along with other federal labor groups—also object to proposed changes to the federal workers’ compensation system.
Last month, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and 26 Democratic senators urged Lieberman and the other sponsors to agree to a four-year ban on any shift to five-day delivery. They’re also seeking to stymie two other big USPS downsizing initiatives that are supposed to save billions of dollars: A change in first-class delivery standards that’s tied to the closing or consolidation of 223 mail processing plants and a round of post office closings that would shutter a lot of rural P.O.’s
It’s not clear exactly how Lieberman and company will proceed. But in a statement today, Sanders said he hopes for an agreement “that will go a long way toward saving jobs at the Postal Service, saving post offices and maintaining strong mail-delivery standards.”
8 Comments
I wish someone would have a look at the tack-on of this bill. It will financially devistate the employees who were injured on the job.
Apparently just relieving the USPS of having to pre-fund retirees pension and healthcare costs under the PAEA will make everything okay. No other changes will be needed to align the mail processing structure to match the volume processed? This is akin to the military base issue. Some have been open since the Revolutionary War but are kept open to placate politically powerful politicians. Now mail processing plants are under similar pressure to remain open to “save jobs”/votes for the various pols.
I’M A LETTER CARRIER FROM WESTERN N.Y. AND THEY WANT TO DO A FULL INSPECTION ON SOME OF THE STATION AROUND WESTERN N.Y. AND IT’S A WASTE OF MONEY RIGHT NOW WITH ALL THE NEW CHANGES GOING ON LIKE(S.1789) LETS SEE WHAT HAPPEN FIRST THEM INSPECT,PLEASE STOP THE POSTAL SERVICE FROM WASTEING!!
Could it be BUCK that your route is out of adjustment? And you just don’t want to give up your two hour lunch.
I’ve been to many places in the world and can honestly say that the USPS is the finest postal service on the planet. To that I believe it in our best interest as a nation to commit to keeping the postal service alive and well. The post office, and mail handlers, are two constants in life we as Americans look forward to.
Dave kiss our Ass’s Nice comment
Could it be Dave that you are part of the illustrious Postal management team that is leading it to extinction?
Go to the link below to sign the petition to stop senate bill 1789!
hhtp://www.ipetitions.com/petition-stop-senate-bill-1789/.