Northern Ag Network Note: Debate on the Postal Reform Bill, S. 1789 will continue at 2 p.m. EST Wednesday.
The following is a press release from Montana Senator Max Baucus:
(Washington, D.C.) – Montana’s senior U.S. Senator Max Baucus secured amendments to protect rural Post Offices in the Postal Reform bill being debated on the Senate floor today. Baucus’ amendments would:
- Prevent any rural Post Office from being closed for the next year and put specific requirements in place to protect rural offices after the one-year moratorium expires.
- Ensure that postal facility closures or changes in service do not affect the outcome of elections in Montana and other states where many voters vote via mail.
- Ensure that the Postal Service would not close a rural post office unless the nearest post office is within 10 miles driving distance. This is particularly significant because the Postal Service estimated that, nationwide, 90 percent of the 3,700 post offices it proposes closing are within 10 miles of another post office. However, in Montana, the opposite is true. Of the 85 post offices proposed for closure, almost 90 percent of them are more than 10 miles from another post office.
“Closing rural post offices would not make a dent in the Postal Service’s budget problems, but it would devastate rural jobs and communities. This amendment makes sure we can move forward with meaningful solutions for the Postal Service in a way that works for Montana,” Baucus said.
Baucus had previously withheld his support for the Postal Reform Bill because it did not include sufficient protections for rural offices. With the acceptance of his amendment, Baucus is now hopeful the Reform Bill will pass when the Senate hold its final vote, expected later today or tomorrow.
The Postmaster General has stated that in order to become financially stable, the Postal Service must reduce spending by $20 billion by 2015, but closing all 3,700 post offices nationwide is only estimated to save $240 million. Closing all 85 of the Montana post offices on the list was only projected to save approximately $4.7 million annually.
Baucus’ First Amendment to the Postal Reform Bill:
Places a one-year moratorium on the closure of rural post offices. After the moratorium, the amendment would prevent the Postal Service from closing a rural post office unless each of the following conditions are satisfied:
- The next nearest post office is within 10 miles driving distance, as measured on roads with year-round access.
This is particularly significant because the Postal Service estimated that, nationwide, 90 percent of the 3,700 post offices it proposes closing are within 10 miles of another post office. However, in Montana, the opposite is true. Of the 85 post offices proposed for closure, almost 90 percent of them are more than 10 miles from another post office.
- Seniors and persons with disabilities will receive the same or substantially similar service — including access to prescription medication sent through the mail.
- Businesses in the community will not suffer economic loss, and, the economic loss to the community resulting from the closure will not exceed the savings the Postal Service obtains by closing the post office.
- The area served by the post office has adequate access to wired broadband Internet service.
Senator Tester is cosponsoring this amendment.
Baucus’ Second Amendment to the Postal Reform Bill:
Ensures that postal facility closures or changes in service do not affect the outcome of elections in states where many voters use the mail to cast their votes. Senators are concerned that changes in postal operations potentially could delay the delivery of ballots and campaign related mail to voters and the return of ballots to election officials, particularly in rural areas that will be most impacted by the proposed closures. Specifically, the amendment:
- Places a moratorium on the closure of postal facilities until November 13, 2012 in states that conduct all elections by mail or permit no-excuse absentee voting.
- Requires the USPS to notify election officials of closings and consolidations.
- Requires that the Postal Service study the effect of closing or consolidating a mail processing facility on the ability of the affected community to vote by mail, and the ability of the Postal Service to deliver ballots on time in accordance with applicable State law.
- Requires that ongoing or completed mail processing center studies that did not consider the effect of closure on vote by mail be amended to include that consideration.
- Prevents facilities from closing until the amended study has been completed and made public by the Postal Service, allowing for time for a public comment period and a Postal Service response to public comments.
Senator Tester is cosponsoring this amendment.
Source: Senator Max Baucus’ Office
Posted by Haylie Shipp
