Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) is challenging his colleagues on Capitol Hill to approve comprehensive, long-term postal reforms rather than simply trying to block the Postal Service’s own consolidation plans.
Unfortunately, Congress has failed for years to pursue such reforms, creating a costly and chaotic situation for the Postal Service. The service recently reported third-quarter losses of $2 billion.
“If my colleagues want to address these concerns for the long haul, I urge them to join me this September as we continue our efforts to fix the serious but solvable financial challenges facing the Postal Service,” Carper said last week.
He chairs the Senate’s Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and has been involved in bipartisan reform efforts. He says legislation he has co-sponsored with Sen.Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) would enable the Postal Service to streamline operations, introduce new products, generate more revenue and preserve existing services.
Despite the Postal Service’s dire financial situation, 50 senators recently asked Senate appropriators to approve language for a “one-year moratorium” that would prevent the service from implementing its own cost cuts.
The senators said they need another year to approve comprehensive reforms. They would do better to follow Carper’s advice by moving more expeditiously.
External links:
Battle Over Postal-Service Cuts Looms in September (National Journal)
Reforming the Postal Service (Sen. Carper)
Senators’ Letter to Appropriators on Postal Service Cuts
