On September 17, 2015 Senator Tom Carper (D-DE) introduced Senate Bill 2051, named the “Improving Postal Operations, Service and Transparency Act 2015” (iPOST). The Bill, introduced in the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs, is the most recent Congressional proposal for comprehensive “postal reform” legislation. In addition to tackling such critical financial issues…
On Friday, October 16, 2015, the United States Postal Service announced its intention to increase shipping rates, effective January 17, 2016. The average cost for shipping would rise by 9.5% or approximately $5.50 per shipment. Priority Mail rates would increase by 9.8%, with prices ranging from $6.80 to $18.75, depending on box size. Rates for…
The provision of banking and similar financial services is not a new concept for the USPS. Postal savings accounts were available in US post offices from 1910 until 1967, and the US Postal Service still provides money orders. Postal banking is one of many non-postal services that have been suggested recently as a means of…
On Wednesday, October 14, the day after the Democratic Presidential debate, Senator Bernie Sanders (D-VT) spoke to the American Postal Workers Union All Craft Conference. Senator Sanders is a supporter of the Postal Service. Addressing the Conference, he talked about the need to preserve mail delivery standards and change the existing legal mandate for the…