APWU: Senate to Debate, Vote On Postal Bill Starting April 23
Filed under: APWU, Congress, postal, postal news, postal reform, usps
APWU Members Must Let Senators Know Where We Stand
APWU News Bulletin 11-2012, April 20, 2012
The Senate will debate the 21st Century Postal Service Act (S. 1789) beginning on Monday, April 23, with voting set to begin on Tuesday, April 24, as a result of an agreement by Senate leaders.
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Sen. Casey’s Amendment #2042Senators will be asked to consider a revised version of the legislation, which the bill’s sponsors introduced on April 17, along with up to 38 other amendments.
“It is crucial that APWU members let their senators know where we stand on this important bill,” said APWU President Cliff Guffey. “With the moratorium on the closure of mail processing plants and post offices set to expire on May 15, we must do everything we can to improve the legislation,” he said.
“The revised bill is better than the original,” he said, “but it doesn’t do enough to ensure the USPS will be able to continue to provide the service the American people have every right to expect.”
The Amendments
The revised bill does not provide sufficient protection for current service standards, Guffey said. “It offers some safeguards, but it does not maintain service standards at current levels. Furthermore, the protection would expire after three years,” he noted.
“USPS officials have demonstrated that they will attempt to slash service, close hundred of mail processing facilities, and shut thousands of post offices — unless Congress stops them,” he said.
For that reason, the APWU is urging members to contact their senators and ask them to support several critical amendments. An amendment offered by Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) would maintain current delivery standards for four years. The amendment (#2042) would not prevent all consolidations, but it would stop the USPS from implementing its “slash and burn” strategy, Guffey said.
The union is also asking APWU members to seek support from their senators for an amendment (#2056) submitted by Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) that would modify the process for closing or consolidating post offices and postal facilities.
The APWU is also asking union members to encourage their senators to support an amendment (#2034) offered by Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI) to replace provisions that would be financially devastating to thousands of postal and federal employees who were injured on the job and who receive compensation from the Office of Workers Compensation Program (OWCP).
“The union supports numerous other amendments,” said Legislative and Political Director Myke Reid. “At the national level, we will be weighing in with senators and staff on the others.” The three mentioned above are the most important to APWU members, he said.
“After the amendments have been voted on, we will evaluate the bill and decide whether we can support the final product,” he said. “Please remain vigilant. We will provide additional information as it develops.”
| They’re At It Again!
Right-wing labor haters are at it again! Among the amendments submitted are: A proposal by Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) to eliminate collective bargaining and another to end the USPS monopoly on first-class mail; an amendment by Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) to require retirement-eligible employees to retire and another to establish “alternatives to post offices;” and an amendment by Sen. John McCain to adopt the hated House bill H.R. 2309. The APWU response? NO WAY! |
Senator Baucus to PMG: Make Good on Promise to Consult us Before Shutting Down Montana’s Rural Post Offices
Filed under: politics, post office closings, postal, postal news, usps
Postmaster General Commits to Consulting Baucus on Any Changes to Montana Postal Operations
(Washington, D.C.) – Montana’s senior U.S. Senator Max Baucus is urging Postmaster General, Patrick Donahoe to make good on his promise to consult with him before making any changes to Montana’s postal operations.
“The Postmaster promised me in Ingomar that no decisions affecting Montana post offices would be made without discussing it with me first. While I’m glad Postmaster Donahoe came directly to Montana to hear from us, it’s just as important that he make good on the promises he made during the trip,” said Baucus. “We’ve had to fight to make our voices heard and we’re going to keep having to fight to make our voices count as the Postal Service irons out its fiscal situation.” Read more
Senator Tester introduces measures to cut USPS executive pay, reduce number on Board of Governors
(U.S. SENATE) – As the Senate works to reform the U.S. Postal Service, Senator Jon Tester is introducing multiple measures to protect rural post offices in Montana and clamp down on the salaries of the organization’s top employees.
Tester, Montana’s only member of the committee that oversees the Postal Service, is pushing an amendment (online HERE) that blocks the Postal Service from closing any rural post offices for at least two years. After the two-year moratorium, the Postal Service could only close rural post offices if it meets certain requirements, such as verifying that another post office is within 10 miles and that seniors and people with disabilities will be able to receive service similar to what they currently receive.
“The folks in charge of the Postal Service just don’t understand how shutting down rural post offices hurts rural communities and the people and businesses who live and work there, ” Tester said. “Putting a hold on rural post office closures and holding the Postal Service’s top leaders accountable will protect rural America, and make sure the Postal Service isn’t making irresponsible decisions.” Read more
Senate Passes Cloture Vote on Postal Bill S.1789
From NAPUS:
Slightly before noontime, the Senate voted to bring up S. 1789, the Lieberman-Collins-Carper-Brown postal relief. The vote was 74-22, 14 votes more than necessary to invoke “cloture”.
The Senate is conducting general debate on postal reform and will proceed to consider amendments, the first being the “managers’ substitute” that will be filed by Senators Joseph Lieberman, Susan Collins, Tom Carper and Scott Brown. Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Chairman Lieberman outlined and explained the provisions that were to be included in the amendment to NAPUS legislative activists at NAPUS’ recent Leadership Conference. In part, the amendment make changes to S. 1789 that would strengthen the protection of community post offices and provide the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) with authority to overrule a USPS post office closing decisions; permit Medicare-eligible retired postal retirees the opportunity — not requirement — to enroll in a new less expensive FEHBP option to complement Medicare coverage, rather than duplicate it; maintain overnight mail delivery in many regions; and create opportunities for postal innovation, making better use of USPS assets. NAPUS reviewed the provisions in the amendment and has communicated its support to members of the Senate.
After voting on the managers’ substitute, individual Senators will offer additional amendments. NAPUS will carefully review each of these amendments and share our views with Senators regarding them.
via NAPUS
NAPS: Senate Action on Postal Bill Could Heat Up Soon
Congressional lawmakers return to Washington today from a two-week recess. Nearly right off the bat, there is a strong possibility that postal legislation will come up for action on the Senate floor as early as Tuesday. This will occur after the Senate completes a procedural vote on a separate tax measure later today.
The Senate agenda remains fluid and can change at a moment’s notice. Nonetheless, after the tax legislation receives a cloture vote on a “motion to proceed” (and likely fails), the Senate could turn to a new substitute version of S. 1789, the Senate postal reform bill.
Procedurally, Senate action on postal legislation would begin with a cloture vote on a “motion to proceed” as well. Sixty votes are required to proceed, so a bipartisan bill that attracts Democratic and Republican support will be necessary to move ahead. (There are 53 Senators aligned with the Democrats and 47 with the Republicans in the Senate.) Senate Democratic Leader Reid is unlikely to bring any postal bill to the floor until he is assured of the necessary 60 votes, especially given the failed cloture vote on the postal measure that occurred three weeks ago in the Senate.
Meanwhile, Senate Democrat and Republican leaders on the Senate postal oversight committee (Senators Lieberman, Carper, Collins and Brown) are continuing to craft the terms of a new version of S. 1789, with added provisions that would preserve current first class 1-3 day mail service standards, moderate plant and post office closures, and create greater business model flexibility.
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Bruce Moyer Legislative Counsel to NAPS
NAPS: Congress Heads Home Post Haste without Delivering on Postal
Filed under: politics, postal, postal news, postal reform, usps
NAPS Leg/Reg Update – April 2, 2012
Senate and House lawmakers are now home for their two-week recess. The Senate headed home last week for the Easter/Passover holiday period after a week of fits and starts on postal legislation, including a failed cloture vote. When lawmakers return to the nation’s capital on April 16, they will have only a month to pass legislation before a moratorium on processing plant and post office closures expires on May 15. Action by both chambers on postal legislation within the next month is unlikely, but Senate action remains a stronger possibility.
Last week, the prospect of Senate action on postal legislation was like a roller coaster ride. Early Monday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) appeared intent on bringing postal reform legislation to the floor. By noon he had reversed course and turned the Senate’s attention to energy tax legislation, expecting Senate Republicans to resist. Instead, Reid found them welcoming the opportunity to decry rising gas prices and keep the spotlight on the Democrat’s frayed energy policies. When Reid attempted to reverse course yet again and bring the postal legislation back to the floor, Republicans resisted, and were joined by a handful of Senate Democrats who also are unhappy, for various reasons, with the shape of the Postal Service.
The bill that Reid wanted to bring to the floor (called a “manager’s amendment” of S. 1789) was largely the result of a deal negotiated with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) that would largely preserve current 1-3 day delivery standards and minimize the closure of rural post offices, as well as create a blue ribbon commission on a new postal business model. These changes to the bill are actions that NAPS fully supports. Read more
Postmaster general supports ‘practically everything’ in draconian Issa-Ross bill
From the National Association of Letter Carriers:
March 27, 2012 — Should we call H.R. 2309 the Issa-Ross (So-Called) Postal Reform Bill—or could we realistically call it the Issa-Donahoe (So-Called) Postal Reform Bill?
Today, during a hearing of the House Oversight & Government Reform Committee’s Subcommittee on the Federal Workforce, Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe was asked by Rep. Justin Amash (R-MI) about Donahoe’s support for elements of the service-destroying, job-killing Issa-Ross postal reform bill, H.R. 2309.
In response, the postmaster general admitted that he supports “practically everything in the bill.”
Amash: Chairman Ross and Chairman Issa wrote a comprehensive postal reform bill last year that was passed by the subcommittee and the full Oversight Committee. It is full of cost-saving measures that will revitalize the Postal Service. What parts of H.R. 2309 does the Postal Service support?
Donahoe: We support the FERS refund. We support the ability to move and consolidate the network. We support the ability to move to consolidate from six-day to five-day delivery. Practically everything in the bill, we are in support.
[Click here to watch this exchange on YouTube. It occurs about 3 minutes and 13 seconds into the video.]
“It’s disappointing that the postmaster general—who is tasked with ensuring the health of USPS and should be focused on growing and expanding the Postal Service—would so readily embrace legislation that threatens to dismantle USPS piece-by-piece and that has very little support in the House,” NALC President Fredric Rolando said.
Click here to read the NALC’s Fact Sheet on our many problems with H.R. 2309.
“Congress needs to do its part to create legislation that will strengthen and improve the U.S. Postal Service as an essential component of American infrastructure,” Rolando said. “Unfortunately, the Issa-Ross bill would do neither. It would, in fact, degrade and destroy the USPS.”
APWU: Senate Debate on Postal Bill Expected in Mid-April
Filed under: APWU, politics, postal, postal news, postal reform, usps
Use This Time to Advocate Union’s Position, APWU Says
The Senate is now expected to consider a postal bill in mid-April, following a two-week congressional recess that begins Friday, APWU Legislative and Political Director Myke Reid reports. Senators were expected to begin debate this week, but discussion of a bill to repeal tax subsidies for oil and gas companies will probably take up most of the chamber’s time this week, he said.
The postal bill, S. 1789, is expected to be the Senate’s first order of business when lawmakers return to the Capitol on April 16.
The APWU has sharply criticized the legislation in its current form, saying that it will provide short-term relief but inflict long-term damage on the nation’s mail system. Numerous lawmakers, led by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), have been advocating changes to the bill that would address many of the union’s concerns. The bill is sponsored by Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT), Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE) and Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA). Read more
NAPS Update: False Start for Postal Reform in the Senate
Filed under: NAPS, politics, postal, postal news, postal reform
NAPS Leg/Reg Update – March 26, 2012
False Start for Postal Reform in the Senate
It looked like a cinch that postal reform would be coming to the Senate floor this week. Now it doesn’t.
That’s because Senate lawmakers on both sides decided Monday that they’d rather score points telling their constitutents back home over the approaching two-week recess what they’ve done to bring down gasoline prices, rather than what they did to save the ailing Postal Service.
Democrats originally thought that Republicans would resist taking up legislation (S 2204) that would roll back tax preferences for large oil companies. Instead, Republicans reflected eagerness for an election year debate on gasoline prices, and supported a procedural motion on Monday evening to take up the oil bill, which could take up the rest of this week. That would effectively sideline postal legislation (S. 1789) until after lawmakers return from the two-week recess, which occurs on April 16. Stay tuned ….
Meanwhile, on Tuesday the House postal oversight subcommittee will hold a hearing on “Can a USPS-Run Health Plan Solve Its Financial Crisis?” The Postal Service has proposed establishing a separate health plan outside of FEHBP that it says would save $7B per year. The health plan is part of a broad five-year business plan (the “Plan to Profitability”) released by the Postal Service last month. Postmaster General Patrick Donohoe, along with FEBHP expert Walton Francis will testify at Tuesday’s hearing. To watch the hearing live (which begins at 10 am EDST) or a replay, click here.
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Bruce Moyer
Legislative Counsel to NAPS
Senate will take up S. 1789 after Easter recess
Filed under: politics, postal, postal news, postal reform, usps
From the National Association of Letter Carriers:
NALC: Breaking: Senate will take up S. 1789 after Easter recess: Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) announced Monday evening that the Senate would not be taking up consideration of S. 1789, the 21st Century Postal Reform Act, until sometime in mid-April after Congress’ Easter recess. Lieberman is chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and one of the co-sponsors of S. 1789, along with Sens. Tom Carper (D-MA), Susan Collins (R-ME) and Scott Brown (R-MA). “Thank you to the more than 50,000 NALC members who took part in Sunday’s national teleconferences,” NALC President Fredric Rolando said, “and thank you to the thousands of letter carriers and allies who, over the past two days, flooded Senate offices with calls to voice our opposition to this deeply flawed bill. It’s this unparalleled level of commitment that will help us win the fight to preserve the Postal Service for decades to come. We hope that senators will now use this extra time to carefully analyze the Service’s financial problems, so that when the Senate resumes its business after the break, it will be prepared to work on a real reform measure designed to strengthen the agency, not dismantle it.” Click here to find out how you can still contact your senators and urge them to oppose the bill in its current form.
via NALC | The National Association of Letter Carriers, AFL-CIO