Sen. Carper Reacts to Postmaster Generals Announcement on Further Cost-Cutting Measures

May 17 2012

WASHINGTON – Today, Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), chairman of the subcommittee that oversees the U.S. Postal Service and co-author of the 21st Century Postal Service Act, released the following statement reacting to the Postmaster General’s announcement that the Postal Service would begin closing select mail processing centers in an effort to save approximately $1.2 billion annually:

“Today’s announcement comes a week after the Postal Service announced that it lost a staggering $3.2 billion in the second quarter of Fiscal Year 2012. In fact, the Postal Service is hemorrhaging money at a rate of at least $25 million a day and is on track to lose far more over the course of this fiscal year. Given these dire circumstances it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the Postmaster General is moving forward to reduce costs with the limited tools at his disposal, but the reality is that efforts of this scale are not enough to fundamentally fix the Postal Service’s financial problems.

“For example, today’s proposal does not address the Postal Service’s two upcoming payments of $5.5 billion for its future retiree healthcare fund, its past overpayments of $11 billion into the Federal Employee Retirement System, or the need to significantly downsize the postal workforce. Only comprehensive, long-term reform of the Postal Service can address these and other serious issues facing this American institution, and that reform can only come from Congress. The Senate has recognized that need and last month passed a comprehensive, bipartisan bill that would modernize the Postal Service, allowing it to right-size and become competitive in the 21st Century. Now it’s up to the House to pass a bill. In the three weeks since the Senate acted, the Postal Service has lost over $500,000,000 – already wiping out nearly half of the savings today’s plan would achieve annually. Clearly, the Postal Service can’t afford to wait any longer for Congress to pass a comprehensive plan. I hope that my colleagues in the House will recognize the urgency of this situation and announce when they intend to act to save the Postal Service.”

6 Responses to "Sen. Carper Reacts to Postmaster Generals Announcement on Further Cost-Cutting Measures"

  1. Wanda – submit your ideas on the Blue page, My Work tab, search for eIdeas

  2. I am here to tell you all that the American People will pay a high price when they lose the USPS. The managers from top to bottom have raped the system. Management has taken bonuses and wages under the old beaten phrase , “for the good of the Service”. I predict the Congress will sit on their hands so that all the damage that Postmaster Patrick Donahoe and his cronies cause cannot be undone. The lies will continue and the facts will prove that all the information that has been given to the news by concerned Citizens and employees who work for the USPS and contribute to the communities were truthful and accurate. I hope that all who have had a hand in this dismantling of the USPS rot in HELL

  3. I am here to tell you all that the American People will pay a high price when they loss the USPS. The managers from top to bottom have raped the system. Management has taken bonuses and wages under the old beaten phrase , “for the good of the Service”. I predict the Congress will sit on their hands so that all the damage that Postmaster Patrick Donahoe and his cronies cause cannot be undone. The lies will continue and the facts will prove that all the information that has been given to the news by concerned Citizens and employees who work for the USPS and contribute to the communities were truthful and accurate. I hope that all who have had a hand in this dismantling of the USPS rot in HELL

  4. So. What’s d hold up, why can’t they just offer early outs,, no one is going to retire, if they known there will b a vera coming ,not even post masters, that have it easy,they got d vera, but some still want to stay, post office is bleeding, it just makes too much. Sense. 36 years of service,only 53years

  5. There are many people with great ideas to help generate revenue for the post office-like me for instance. However, there is no process in place to share these ideas with the real decision makers.

    I have a great, solid idea that is sure to make millions each week but who can I contact??? I am exhausted from trying to find the right person and when I read articles like this, it makes me wonder if the post office has given up…please think like a real business and listen to ideas from your customers-it just might save you!

  6. Sirs, What the Senator was so delicately saying is that the Republican controlled House is waiting for the USPS to self-destruct. Then it will be sold off to “big business” and destroyed. We have Republican Sentors Collins, Issa and Ross to thank for this.
    Anyone who votes Republican after this Republican orchestrated boondoggle of the Postal Service is crazy. The party of the rich and big business has struck again.
    Remember, the Post Office was profitable until Bush and Senator Collins forced it to pay $5,5 billion into an account for people not even HIRED yet.
    Make them pay at election time.

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