The United States Postal Service has been delivering mail on Saturday for decades, which may soon come to an end for the fourth time in history as the USPS copes with yearly deficits. President Obama’s 2013 proposed budget backs plans allowing the USPS to cut Saturday mail services, as well as increase the price of stamps beyond inflation and recalculating how it could pay for the retirement of postal workers. It would also refund the USPS $10.9 billion over a period of two years, using a credit the USPS has with the Federal Employee Retirement System. Republican bills in Congress also support cutting Saturdays, though some GOP members argue the proposed changes don’t go far enough. Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), the sponsor of a House GOP postal reform bill, had this to say:
“[the proposed changes by the Obama Administration] lacks the necessary comprehensive approach to restore the Postal Service to solvency … infusing the agency with cash and hiking postage rates without requiring USPS to reduce costs and realign itself to meet America’s changing use of mail is just buying a very small amount of time with a very big check.”
Obama’s budget plan backs ending Saturday mail, other Postal Service changes
The USPS welcomed the proposal, with Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe thanking the White House for its recommendations.
Do these measures go far enough? Should mail continue to be delivered on Saturdays, or is it unnecessary? Would ending Saturday mail negatively affect the employment of postal workers?
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