Congress, You’ve Got Mail – From The Post Office

John Faith
July 5, 2014

I have been doing some research trying to make sense of why the Congress requires the United States Postal Service to pre-fund health benefits for future retirees. The strategy causes the Post Office to struggle to make a profit. According to USPS Chief Financial Officer, Joe Corbett, the Post Office has about $22 billion in assets and a $113 billion in liabilities, including liabilities related to the “pre-funding” law imposed by Congress.

The United States Supreme Court sort of side-tracked the original intent of the Americans with Disabilities Act, preventing many disabled individuals from meeting the definition of “disabled”. The Congress saw the inequity in that move and enacted the ADA Amendment Act of 2008 to rectify a ruling by the court that was not to the benefit of the disabled and abrogated the intent of the original Act.

What about a little role reversal? Now that the Congress has it all confused over the “pre-fund” law, perhaps the Court needs to step in and say that the pre-fund law is unconstitutional and serves as a deterrent to the Post Office’s primary mission to deliver the mail. Perhaps, that means electronically, by stamp, or some other fancy piece of technology, but the Congress is about to bankrupt an organization for reasons the public does not understand. I don’t understand, but I am still researching. I will let you know what I find.

Join in in asking the Congress – What is the purpose of the “pre-fund” law? It is a notion that has outlived its time because it should have never existed if it does not benefit and support the organization and that means the people.

P. S. Always Remember to Share What You Know.