Senate Democrats divided over deep cuts to U.S. Postal Services (The Hill)

February 5, 2012

By Alexander Bolton

Senate Democratic lawmakers from rural states are balking at legislation from the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee that would let the U.S. Postal Service close thousands of offices.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) has convened meetings of Senate colleagues and staffs to overhaul the bill, which he believes could lead to the eventual privatization of the postal service.

The postal reform bill crafted by Homeland Security Committee Chairman Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) was expected to reach the Senate floor as soon as next week.

 

Now Senate Democratic aides say it is not likely to come up until after the Presidents Day recess, as senators engage in last-minute shuttle diplomacy to avert a nasty and potentially embarrassing floor fight.

“It’s a massively complex series of issues, both short-term and long-term, in terms of solvency and sustaining postal service. That’s coupled with 535 members paying close attention to postal service in their backyards,” said a senior Democratic aide.

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Senate Democratic lawmakers from rural states are balking at legislation from the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee that would let the U.S. Postal Service close thousands of offices.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) has convened meetings of Senate colleagues and staffs to overhaul the bill, which he believes could lead to the eventual privatization of the postal service.

The postal reform bill crafted by Homeland Security Committee Chairman Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) was expected to reach the Senate floor as soon as next week.

 

Now Senate Democratic aides say it is not likely to come up until after the Presidents Day recess, as senators engage in last-minute shuttle diplomacy to avert a nasty and potentially embarrassing floor fight.

“It’s a massively complex series of issues, both short-term and long-term, in terms of solvency and sustaining postal service. That’s coupled with 535 members paying close attention to postal service in their backyards,” said a senior Democratic aide.

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