Reply #24: more details: vets-turned-postal workers pensions moved, discount rates possible - [View All]

[cyberpj]

Carper is one of my senators here in Delaware. He's also vice-chair of the DLC. AND he co-sponsored the bankruptcy bill as well as voted with Republicans on the recent "torture bill". Because he's usually a blatant big business supporter, I question everything he "hail"s and "sponsor"s. I'm betting they're finally setting up the USPS for privatization to compete with UPS and Fed Ex. Here are more of the bill's details:

Carper lauds postal service overhaul
By AARON NATHANS, The News Journal

Posted Thursday, December 21, 2006 at 1:11 pm
Sen. Tom Carper hailed the passage of the overhaul of the U.S. Postal Service, saying it would help keep prices stable and allow businesses to better plan for the future.

President Bush signed the legislation into law on Wednesday, requiring price increases to stay below inflation for the next 10 years. The law also moves the burden for paying the pensions of its military veterans-turned-postal workers to the U.S. Treasury, helping the postal service to regain its financial footing, Carper said.

Carper was the bill’s lead Democratic sponsor.

The new law also gives the postal service the ability to offer discounts and promotional rates.

...to corporations I assume...

The postal service is facing a decrease in demand, due to new communications technologies like e-mail, fax machines and cell phones, Carper said. The result, he said, has been a dramatic increase in the price of mail. The new law, he said, will ensure the long-term viability of the postal service.

http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061221/NEWS/61221017/1006/NEWS