WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a hearing of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill expressed concerns that many rural Missourians have about proposed cutbacks in the United States Postal Service. McCaskill urged Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe to take into consideration the effect that proposed reforms to institute five-day delivery (with the proposed elimination of Saturdays) and to close hundreds of post offices would have on rural communities that depend on the Postal Service.
“I get it that we’ve got a huge problem here. I get it that money coming in doesn’t match money going out…but I do think it’s important that these rural communities feel like they have an opportunity to weigh in,” McCaskill said in today’s hearing.
McCaskill emphasized how important Saturday delivery is to rural communities, especially as it relates to delivery of goods like medicine. Rural communities rely on the postal service for access to news, goods, and services that may not be available through other means.
“I do feel very strongly that if we can save six days, it is very important to the integrity of the product we have which is United States Postal Service, rain, snow, or sleet, it’s going to happen six days a week,” she said.
McCaskill also expressed disappointment that a survey done by the Postal Service to garner input from “rural” communities focused on two non-rural communities, one in suburban Atlanta and one in suburban Seattle.
“Would it be possible to take a real look at a rural community, not one that is within commuting distance of a major city. It’s those folks…that Saturday delivery is very important for in terms of their ability to receive mail on Saturdays. Is there a reason why, what I would call a true rural community was not included in the survey?” McCaskill asked.
Postmaster General Donahue pledged to solicit additional input from such communities before any future decision-making.
How will carriers deliver that Saturday mail along with their normal Monday
mail without help?
The Post Office is overstating the savings of getting rid of Saturdays, just like they are overstating how much money is being lost now. It will get rid of 40,000 veteran jobs, and the remaining employees will get a lot of overtime.
One less day of delivery is not going to be the end of the world for anyone. Do away with saturday delivery now. The impact will be no greater for rural areas as opposed to metropolitan areas. Medicine is not going to be delivered on saturday in many cases with 6 day delivery, because it just doesn’t get into transit on time. Tell the good senator these things, perhaps she will get it. 3 billion dollars in savings for the post office by not delivering on saturday, and the saturday delivery is for the most part the only thing lost if we can get congress to understand this, maybe they will vote for it.
The ONLY reason the Post Office is losing money is because they have to pre-pay retirees pension fund – the ONLY Govt. agency that has to do that. If the Post Office does not have to pay that 5.5 BILLION per year they make money. Six day delivery makes sense, if the USPS gets five day delivery they will then try for 4 and then 3. Get rid of pre-funding and the deadwood in management and USPS is fine
well said ken my thoughts exactly lets get on with 5 day delivery stop all the bickering.
McCaskill has her head in the sand. How do these people live without their medicine, news, farm parts and anything else–on Sundays? For crying out loud, get with the program. Maybe they will need to plan a little better and get their stuff ordered a day earlier. 68% of the population favors cutting Saturday delivery, so what’s the hold up? So the people who don’t have internet–or live in the sticks–unfortunately, that’s not the Post Office’s fault. You choose to live there, that goes with it, just like any place else has it’s drawbacks. I can’t imagine what all this back-and-forth hashing over of the situation is costing the Postal Service. This is ridiculous to think they can keep 6 day delivery going!!