Washington Whispers

Post Office Eyes 1,600 More Branch Closings

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August 26, 2009 RSS Feed Print
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By Paul Bedard, Washington Whispers

Already looking to cut some 3,200 post offices as it grapples with higher costs and business robbed by E-mail, the Postal Service has hinted it might up that count by 1,600 more branch closings. But don't get mad if your post office ends up on the chopping block. Call your congressman. The Congressional Research Service says that lawmakers are considering alternatives to the closings, such as simply outlawing the shuttering or ordering a cut in mail delivery service to five days a week.

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Interesting post you got here. I'd like to read something more about that theme. Thnx for giving this info.

Marcus of AL 7:43PM March 09, 2010

Most Americans are unaware that the usps is not funded at all by us tax dollars.If congress would let up on the prefunding of retirees and future retirees health benefits , the post office might not be in such bad shape.In a competitive market as a privatized business, postal rates would be triple or worse.UPS and FEDEX can raise the rates whenever gas goes up,USPS has to get approval and that usually takes months.

jel of MA 2:07PM September 03, 2009

So congress is going to heap requirements on the Postal Service without doing anything to help its situation? They'll just pass a law forbidding more closures but not start funding them again. If they are going to require offices to stay open they should have to financially support the postal system.

There are a lot of small magazines that have been hurt by the Post Office's problems. Rates for periodicals have increased and that means that political cause publications or mailings of non-profits are more expensive, eating into the ability of such magazines to provide good coverage or even survive.

Maybe the PO can keep all the small branches open if the Congress will underwrite them in the name of the first ammendment and the free exchange of ideas to help keep periodical shipping rates down.

Frelance Minion of NE 4:28PM September 02, 2009

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