Senator Tester: Delay Postal Service closures for six months
Senator proposes delay to allow time to reform Postal Service
Thursday, December 8, 2011
(U.S. SENATE) – Senator Jon Tester is asking Senate leaders to prevent the U.S. Postal Service from closing post offices and area mail processing facilities for at least six months, allowing more time for Congress to “enact reforms necessary” for the organization to succeed.
Tester has continually opposed the Postal Service’s plans to close numerous post offices and processing facilities across Montana. In a letter to be sent to Senate Leaders, Tester proposes adding a provision to an upcoming appropriations bill to prevent any closures for the next six months.
“We are concerned that the Postal Service may preempt Congress on this matter by closing or consolidating nearly 3,700 mostly rural post offices, over 250 mail processing facilities, and eliminating overnight delivery for first class mail before postal reform legislation is enacted,” Tester wrote.
In August, the Postal Service announced plans to close 85 Montana post offices, and more recently recommended consolidating mail processing facilities in Kalispell, Missoula, Helena, Butte, and Wolf Point. The Postal Service is struggling financially due to a 2006 law – passed before Tester was a member of the Senate – which set a formula for the pre-funding of employee health benefits. Tester says more time is needed to fix the 2006 law in a way that protects Montanans.
“While some of these changes may be needed, we believe that it is very important to give Congress the opportunity to reform the postal service in a way that protects universal service while ensuring its financial viability for decades to come,” Tester wrote.
A six-month freeze on closures will allow Congress time to examine the numerous proposals that seek to reform the Postal Service.
Tester, a member of the Senate committee that oversees the Postal Service, is a leading critic of plans to close postal facilities in Montana and across rural America.
Tester supported a bipartisan amendment to the 21st Century Postal Service Act that prevents the Postal Service from closing rural post offices until it establishes clear criteria for determining whether a post office should be closed.
Tester’s letter appears below.
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Dear Majority Leader Reid, Minority Leader McConnell, Chairman Inouye, and Ranking Member Cochran:
Everyone understands that the United States Postal Service (USPS) is experiencing significant financial problems today and that changes need to be made as the USPS adjusts to a digital world.
To address this serious problem, Congress is in the midst of significantly reforming the postal service. Several bills have been introduced in the Senate and the House on this issue. On November 9th, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee passed the 21st Century Postal Service Act, S.1789, by a vote of 9-1. The House is also moving forward with postal reform legislation.
While we may have very different views on how to financially improve the postal service, we all believe that democratically elected members of the Senate and the House have the responsibility to make significant changes to the postal service.
Unfortunately, we are concerned that the postal service may preempt Congress on this matter by closing or consolidating nearly 3,700 mostly rural post offices, over 250 mail processing facilities, and eliminating overnight delivery for first class mail before postal reform legislation is enacted. While some of these changes may be needed, we believe that it is very important to give Congress the opportunity to reform the postal service in a way that protects universal service while ensuring its financial viability for decades to come.
Therefore, we respectfully ask that you include language in the next appropriations to prevent the USPS from closing or consolidating area mail processing facilities or rural post offices for the next six months. This six month moratorium will give Congress the time needed to enact reforms necessary for the postal service to succeed in the 21st century.
We look forward to working with you on this important issue. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
(s)
Jon Tester et al
Video: Senator Tester Says Postal Execs Should Not Receive Outlandish Salaries and Benefits for their work
Filed under: pay, politics, postal, postal news, usps, videos
During hearing of the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee on the 21 Century Postal Service Act , Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) pushed to hold the Postmaster General more accountable for the Postal Service’s actions.
“Tester said that public service is “an honor” and that public officials shouldn’t be receiving outlandish salaries and benefits for their work, especially when the Postal Service is facing difficult times. In Fiscal Year 2010, the Postmaster General received $800,000 in total compensation, including over $270,000 in salary and bonuses, despite the fact that the Postal Service lost $8.5 billion in 2010 and has shed nearly 20 percent of its workforce since 2006.” Read more
Senator Tester blasts PMG for ‘lack of transparency’ over Proposed Post Office Closings
Filed under: politics, post office closings, press releases, usps
Senator also introduces bipartisan bill to prevent rural closures
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
(U.S. SENATE) – Blasting a “lack of transparency” within the U.S. Postal Service, Senator Jon Tester is demanding straight answers from the organization as he introduces new bipartisan legislation to prevent the closures of post offices in rural communities across Montana.
Tester this week joined a bipartisan group of Senators in questioning Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe about whether public input is truly being considered as the Postal Service considers post office closures.
The Postal Service is considering closing 3,700 post offices across the country, including 85 across Montana, to save money.
At a recent Senate hearing, the Senators asked Donahue for a list of postal facilities that were kept open after going through the public comment process. Donahue promised to provide that information, but Tester and his fellow Senators are still waiting.
“The lack of response leads many of our constituents to question if their views and concerns are truly taken into account during this process,” Tester and his colleagues wrote. “The public comment process should provide more than the opportunity for input; it must lead to a full and fair consideration, with the real potential that positive outcomes can arise from the process.” Read more
Senators Pursue Unanswered Questions from PMG on Rural Post Office Closures
Filed under: politics, post office closings, postal, postal news, usps
States represented by bipartisan group make up nearly 20 percent of post offices slated for potential closure
WASHINGTON, D.C. – A bipartisan group of U.S. Senators representing rural America is aiming to get U.S. Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe on record in response to questions he has so far failed to answer about potential closures of hundreds of post offices in their states, and the elimination of Saturday delivery.
In the past several months, U.S. Senators Claire McCaskill (Mo.), Jon Tester (Mont.), Mark Pryor (Ark.), Mark Begich (Alaska), Jerry Moran (Kan.), and Susan Collins (Maine) have each questioned Donahoe on whether public input is truly being considered when determining which post offices across the country will close. However, Donohoe has failed to respond to the Senators’ questions, or to similar inquiries, leading the Senators to write to him today asking for answers. Read more
Senator Jon Tester asks Montanans for input as Congress examines challenges of USPS
Filed under: Congress, politics, postal, postal news, press releases
Tester plans to share feedback as Congress considers future of mail service. Tester also recently launched tester.senate.gov/postal, a new website for Montanans to comment about proposed post office closures.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
(U.S. SENATE) – U.S. Senator Jon Tester released the following statement as the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs today held a hearing to examine the challenges of U.S. Postal Service:
“Timely and efficient mail service is an integral part of business and daily life in Montana and across rural America. As we look for the best solutions for the challenges facing the U.S. Postal Service, Montana’s rural and frontier communities must not bear more than our share of the burden. Read more
Senator Tester Questions Why Postmaster General Gets $800,000 Salary
Filed under: politics, post office closings, postal, postal news, press releases, usps
From the Office of Senator Jon Tester (D-Montana)
(U.S. SENATE) – U.S. Senator Jon Tester is demanding to know why the head of the U.S. Postal Service made $800,000 in total compensation while eliminating local Montana positions as the organization is dealing with a multi-billion-dollar shortfall.
Tester, during a Senate hearing on the nominations of Mark Acton and Robert Taub to the Postal Regulatory Commission, said that the salaries of top executives should be at the top of the list when cutting costs. Read more
Senator Tester to USPS: Ensure postal service in rural America
Filed under: politics, post offices, postal, postal news, press releases, usps
July 19, 2011 - (U.S. SENATE) – Senator Jon Tester is calling on the U.S. Postal Service to keep mail service available in rural communities should it choose to close a post office.
Tester today wrote Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe to express his concerns that Montana’s smaller communities will have unreasonably limited postal service as Postal Services continues to cut costs.
In his letter, Tester noted that Montana receives more mail than it sends, therefore “evaluating usefulness based upon revenue doesn’t reflect the value of a post office to the community.” Read more
Senator Tester questions controversial USPS consolidation plan In Montana
Filed under: consolidations, politics, postal, postal news, press releases, usps
The office of Sen. John Tester, D-MT. has issued the following press release release:
Senator concerned consolidation plan won’t save money, lacks transparency
Thursday, June 16, 2011
(U.S. SENATE)—Senator Jon Tester says a controversial proposal to shut down mail processing centers in Butte and Helena doesn’t smell right and is asking the U.S. Postal Service to listen to Montana customers rather than ignore them.
Tester today wrote U.S. Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe about his “deep concerns” over the lack of transparency and “no assurances the plan actually saves money.”
Under the proposal, if someone in Butte sends a letter across town via U.S. mail, that letter will have to be trucked 300 miles to Great Falls and back before it’s delivered in Butte.
“This adds significant fuel costs and adds precious time to what Montanans expect to be a simple cross-town delivery,” Tester wrote.
Tester also said he’s concerned about the cost of new machinery to handle additional mail volume in Great Falls, the overall loss of jobs, and the timely delivery of mail in smaller communities across southwestern Montana. Read more
Senator Says Panel will block USPS Proposal to drop Saturday Mail delivery
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - The Senate panel that oversees the budget of the U.S. Postal Service will not consider cutting mail delivery to five days per week, Senator Jon Tester announced today.
Tester used his position as a member of the Senate Financial Services Appropriations Subcommittee to push for continued Saturday service, because people who live in rural areas rely on Saturday delivery for essential deliveries like medications, newspapers, and checks.
The USPS was considering a proposal to stop Saturday delivery service to homes and businesses in an attempt to cut costs. But Tester said the move would amount to relatively small savings and cost hundreds of jobs in Montana alone.
“Folks in rural and frontier communities often rely on their Saturday mail to bring them the things they need to live,” Tester said. “Unlike in urban areas where folks can walk down the block to the local drug store, many Montanans live long distances from the nearest pharmacy or newsstand. Getting mail six-days per week is part of what keeps rural America strong and thriving.”
Testers said the decision to keep Saturday service is part of the Senate’s Fiscal Year 2011 Financial Services Appropriations Act, which the full Appropriations Committee will vote on Thursday.
Tester said as a child, he remembered hearing from a 93-year old woman about her life experiences and how important rural mail service was to her. The woman told Tester that she had lived through two world wars and the invention of the automobile, airplane and spaceflight. She said that after all of those experiences, the thing she was most thankful for was reliable rural postal delivery service.
Tester is a powerful advocate for rural postal services. In recent years he pushed the USPS to keep open post offices in Kinsey and Black Eagle, and to maintain postal delivery service in Martin City.
source: Senator Jon Tester press release