Postmaster Patrick Donahoe On C-Span Newmakers
The Senate passed legislation this week to preserve post office services as the agency faces financial problems. The 37th Postmaster General, Patrick R. Donahoe, joins us this week on Newsmakers.
He discusses the Senates bill, if and when it will move forward in the House and changes the agency plans to make in the future with regards to consolidation of post offices. He also talks about an array of options for restructuring the national mail system, which is losing $25 million per day.
Our guest reporters are Bernie Becker of The Hill and Michelle Jamrisko of Bloomberg News.
The Senate on Wednesday passed a bill to postpone for one year the Postal Service’s own plan to save money by closing 3,700 post offices and consolidating hundreds of processing centers. The bipartisan Senate bill aims to save money through early retirements of some 100,000 employees, and it would restructure the USPS health care benefit system.
The House has not yet acted, and most Democrats there oppose a proposal by Rep. Darrell Issa for a commission that would close many post offices and processing centers.
The Postmaster General says he needs to cut $22 billion in operating costs by 2016. His plan calls for ending Saturday mail service, overnight mail, and shutting many post offices.
Postmaster General Patrick R. Donahoe on Newsmakers | C-SPAN
Related links
U.S. Postal Service Statement on Election Mail Process– n December, the U.S. Postal Service formed an agreement with Congress that no consolidation or closing of any postal facility will occur prior to May 15, 2012. Therefore, most closures or consolidations would have to take place starting after May 15, 2012, and be completed by August 31, 2012. Further consolidation of facilities would then continue in early 2013. The pursuit by the Postal Service of the significant consolidation of its national network of mail processing facilities is contingent upon its adoption of a final rule changing its delivery service standards. For primary elections after May 15, the U.S. Postal Service is instituting a state-by-state outreach program to address the questions and concerns of election boards, political candidates and mailers. In addition, for states that are promoting vote by mail, the proposed plan to study 3,600 Post Offices around the U.S. for possible…
F U, Donuthole
When is Donahue going to let up? The Senate and the House do not want any closings until they decide on a reform bill, and until one is passed by both groups and signed by the POUS he’s not to do any thing as far as closing PO’s. I’m dying to see what this guy does after they pass a bill, I think he’ll still try to do what he wants regardless of the Congress or the POUS. From every thing I’ve seen of the PMG, he believes he above every one. When the President said he wanted 6 day delievery he said no and still harped about 5 day. He has never lived up to a contract, or made his underling follow one and he has only one way of looking at solutions for the PO’s problems. HIS !