Congress will be back in session soon for a couple of weeks when they will break again for the election cycle. I do not think they will accomplish much of anything because no one up for election wants their name associated with anything that remotely could be construed as controversial. Its all about getting the "votes".
Last year's Congress was the least productive in the history of this country and this year's Congress will be even less productive. How is that for effective governing? Why do any of them deserve to be reelected?
Just a few days ago the leader of the Senate - Harry Reid - added his name on the letter asking for a one-year delay in any further mail processing plant consolidations. That made a total of 51 senator signatures which makes a majority of the Senate. Yesterday the two makers of Senate Bill 1486 (Tom Carper a democrat and Tom Coburn a republican) came out against the letter calling for the delay. They want the Senate to adopt their bill as a cure for what ails the USPS. Most of us who work at the post office or represent employees know that S. 1486 is not the cure nor the answer for postal reform.
Over in the House of Representatives where Ohio's David Joyce has initiated a similar letter asking for a one year delay there is no more likelyhood of any movement on postal reform. The last count on signatures on the letter was 73. Most of Ohio's congresspeople are NOT signatory yet. That's kinda funny since of the 82 proposed consolidations in 2015, four of those will be in our state. Makes you wonder why members of congress whose districts touch Toledo, Akron, Dayton and Youngstown are not more concerned about the potential loss of hundreds of good jobs.
After the election is over we get near the holiday season and Congress will again go on break. I always try to hope for the best, but does anyone really expect any action on fixing the financial problems facing the Postal Service? We have been fighting for reform for more than four years and nothing has been done. Meanwhile, the calls from those who want to privatize the Postal Service keep getting louder and mail processing consolidations and slowing mail delivery is playing right into their hands.
Terry Grant, President OPWU AFL-CIO
UPDATE: Today (9/11) was the last day congress could sign on to the letter requesting a one-year delay in any mail processing plant consolidations. The total number signed to the letter was 160 including David Joyce, Marcia Fudge, Tim Ryan, Bill Johnson, Marcy Kaptur and Bob Latta from Ohio. The hope is to have language included in the appropriations bill that would provide a on-year moratorium on plant closings.
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