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2013-03-23 Home Front: Politix

Congress Thwarts Post Office's Plan to Eliminate Saturday Delivery

[FINANCE.YAHOO] Last month United States Postal Service Postmaster Patrick Donahoe warned that the Postal Service was on the brink of default. He proposed cutting Saturday delivery service as a way to save $2 billion annually. But in a setback to the agency's cost-saving efforts, Congress has passed legislation requiring a six-day postal service delivery schedule. Now the Government Accountability Office has released a report finding that USPS is bound to Congress' spending agreement. The beleaguered mail carrier lost roughly $16 billion in 2012.
Why? Would anybody really notice if they cut back to every other day?
The Postal Service is an independent agency, which means it is not funded by tax dollars. Instead, USPS functions like a business, making about $15 million in revenue each day on sales of postage, products, and services. Congress does not allocate money to support the mail service, but still holds legislative control over it.

Congress typically includes a provision in its federal budget each year that requires USPS to deliver mail six days a week and despite pleas from the Postal Service, politicians included it in their final resolution on Thursday.

Posted by Fred 2013-03-23 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11132 views ] Top

#1 OK, then Congress can pay for it.

Posted by Redneck Jim 2013-03-23 05:41|| 2013-03-23 05:41|| Front Page Top

#2 In other news: Illinois Central Railroad Depot at Ullin closes.

Posted by Besoeker 2013-03-23 08:30|| 2013-03-23 08:30|| Front Page Top

#3 The post office should agree and only deliver mail on Saturday. Just drive through the neighborhood in empty jeeps (better yet switch to Prius' to save money and energy) Monday - Friday.

Posted by airandee 2013-03-23 08:31|| 2013-03-23 08:31|| Front Page Top

#4 This is one of the issues that I think makes a reasonable case for old fashion patronage. Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution gives Congress the power to -
"7: To establish Post Offices and post Roads;"

Let Congress run it directly, allowing the Representatives and Senators to appoint management and hire/fire directly the personnel. They also assume full responsibility for the efficiency, effectiveness, and cost of the operation thereof. None of this finger pointing or interference with some semi-private operation. Got a problem with the mail. You know exactly who to hold accountable. No bureaucracy or regulations to hide behind.

Posted by Procopius2k 2013-03-23 09:53|| 2013-03-23 09:53|| Front Page Top

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