Link (http://news.yahoo.com/congress-set-force-postal-keep-saturday-delivery-144607874--finance.html)

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Congress foiled the financially beleaguered U.S. Postal Service's plan to end Saturday delivery of first-class mail on Thursday when it passed legislation requiring six-day delivery.

The Postal Service, which lost $16 billion last year, had said last month it wanted to switch to five-day mail service to save $2 billion annually.

No law requires the Postal Service to deliver mail six days a week, but Congress traditionally has included a provision in legislation to fund the federal government each year that has prevented the Postal Service from reducing delivery service.

The Postal Service had asked Congress not to include the provision this time around.

Despite the request, the House of Representatives on Thursday gave final approval to the legislation that maintains the provision, sending it to President Barack Obama to sign into law. The Senate approved the measure on Wednesday.

But some lawmakers who support the Postal Service's plan have said there may still be some room for it to change its delivery schedule. They point out that the language requiring six-day delivery is vague and does not prohibit altering what products it delivers on Saturdays.

The Postal Service has said that while it would not pick up or deliver first-class mail, magazines and direct mail, it would continue to deliver packages and pharmaceutical drugs on Saturdays.

Republican Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma and Representative Darrell Issa of California on Thursday jointly told the USPS Board of Governors to move forward with implementing the five-day delivery plan for mail.

"The Board of Governors has a fiduciary responsibility to utilize its legal authority to implement modified 6-day mail delivery as recently proposed," the lawmakers said in their letter to the USPS board.

The Postal Service, they said, is in such dire financial need that it must implement all measures to fix its troubles.

LEGALITY IN QUESTION

Several polls have shown a majority of the public supports ending six-day delivery of first-class mail.

The plan for a new delivery schedule, Postal Service spokesman David Partenheimer said, would respond to the customers' changing needs and help keep the Postal Service from becoming a burden to taxpayers.

Last week, Coburn introduced an amendment to the spending bill to strike down the requirement for six-day mail delivery and give the mail carrier more control over its operations. That amendment failed.

A number of lawmakers and trade groups said the plan to cut Saturday mail service is illegal because the Postal Service requires Congress' approval before it makes such a decision.

Democratic Representative Gerald Connolly of Virginia said in a letter to the Government Accountability Office on Thursday that the Postal Service is still bound by the six-day requirement.

"Unfortunately, the Postmaster General continues to stonewall members of Congress, withholding his legal justifications for eliminating Saturday delivery from postal customers and the American public," Connolly said.

The Postal Service, an independent agency not funded by taxpayers, has said it could need a taxpayer bailout of more than $47 billion by 2017 if Congress does not give it flexibility to change its business model.

It had planned to drop Saturday first-class mail delivery in August.

Ending six-day first-class mail delivery is part of the Postal Service's larger plan to cut costs and raise revenues.

The mail carrier loses $25 million each day, as more Americans communicate by email and the Internet, and as heavy mandatory payments into its future retirees' health fund take a toll.

The Postal Service could run out of money by October if Congress does not provide legislative relief, some experts have estimated.

"Once the delivery schedule language ... becomes law, we will discuss it with our Board of Governors to determine our next steps," Partenheimer said.

It was bound to happen

I am a Rural Carrier sub and thankfully, I will still have my job. Instead of working Saturdays, I'll be working every other Friday and some weekdays.

Not surprised at all

Our mailman is glad about this because he'll have Saturday and Sundays off. He'll be picking up another shift. This was bound to happen, with the internet taking over. All of my bills, except for one, are paid online. You can even send someone a greeting card online now, and they'll even mail it. It's the same price as buying a card and mailing it.

Personally, this doesn't bother me, but will take a while to get used to. Our mailboxes will be fuller on Mondays now.

:mail:

Not surprised at all

True, it's been talked about for years.

Not surprising either

Sometimes I forget that mail comes on Saturday so I say it is a good move

I do use on line banking so no stamps or envelopes are used. I do wonder how over the years did the postal service get so deep in debt. When was the first year they were in the hole? Anyone know.

5 Reasons why this happening

1. My Comcast bill is emailed to me

2. My T-Mobile bill is emailed to me

3. My Gas Bill is emailed to me

4. My Electric bill is emailed to me

5. I don't mail rent checks anymore, I pay online


:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

I will have to get used to it. That's true that it's not a surprise that the post office has lost a lot of money and had to do something. On holidays that fall on Mondays that means there will be a three day period where there will be no regular mail.

I will have to get used to it. That's true that it's not a surprise that the post office has lost a lot of money and had to do something. On holidays that fall on Mondays that means there will be a three day period where there will be no regular mail.


I know, Thursday to Tuesday:lol:

I will have to get used to it. That's true that it's not a surprise that the post office has lost a lot of money and had to do something. On holidays that fall on Mondays that means there will be a three day period where there will be no regular mail.

That is the bad thing, waiting for 3 days for mail

If not for college pamphlets and junk mail, the Postal Service would have closed years ago.

Yep, and before long home mail-delivery will be stop altogether. Mark my words.

Next they will only want to deiver every other day Mon, Wed and Fri, that has alraedy been briefly talked about.


I'm actually surprised mail delivery has lasted as long as it has, in this day and age the idea of an actual PERSON bringing stuff to your house just seems so out-dated, and honestly I think that's why so many ppl voted that stopping mail delivery on Sat would be a good idea, this new generation hates anything from the past.

Someday not far off, if you want your mail you'll have to pick it up at the post office, like every thing else now days, you go to THEM. Same with doctors, etc....

And I can see reading these replies ppl think it's a good thing, b/c everyone is ONLINE nowdays. I think this is where our culture is SAD, everything is geared toward the majority and the BIG BOYS now days, no one cares about the little person, believe it or not, not EVERYONE does their whole life by the internet, some folks STILL depend on mail but I guess just to hell with them, huh?

I do use on line banking so no stamps or envelopes are used. I do wonder how over the years did the postal service get so deep in debt. When was the first year they were in the hole? Anyone know.

The majority of the Postal Service's debt problems are the result of a Congressional mandate. This article explains it pretty welll.

http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2011/12/06/how-to-help-the-post-office/the-us-postal-service-is-crippled-by-congress

Yep, and before long home mail-delivery will be stop altogether. Mark my words.

I doubt that will ever happen, the volume of junk mail alone would see to that.

Next they will only want to deiver every other day Mon, Wed and Fri.

Not likely, a Monday holiday would cause chaos because you would have several days of mail backed-up in the system and I was told by a postal employee about a year ago that if they ever got more than 2-3 days behind in deliveries they'd never get caught-up and he was speaking of the entire U.S. not just the route I live on.



I think that's why so many ppl voted that stopping mail delivery on Sat would be a good idea, this new generation hates anything from the past.

Was this something that was actually voted on by the public or was it just a decision from the USPS?

Someday not far off, if you want your mail you'll have to pick it up at the post office.

Again, not likely. This would mean building new post offices to hold the boxes for every resident plus expanding the current ones. The USPS has closed many locations in the past few years, why would the want to build more?

I doubt that will ever happen, the volume of junk mail alone would see to that.



Not likely, a Monday holiday would cause chaos because you would have several days of mail backed-up in the system and I was told by a postal employee about a year ago that if they ever got more than 2-3 days behind in deliveries they'd never get caught-up and he was speaking of the entire U.S. not just the route I live on.





Was this something that was actually voted on by the public or was it just a decision from the USPS?



Again, not likely. This would mean building new post offices to hold the boxes for every resident plus expanding the current ones. The USPS has closed many locations in the past few years, why would the want to build more?





It was NOT voted on whether to stop Sat delivery but I heard on the news ppl's opinions were taken, to see if ppl thought it was a good idea, and it was like 70% to 30%, 70% of people thought that stopping Sat mail delivery was a good idea, that sorta shocked me.

I mean there are still LOTS of ppl, esp. elderly ppl who don't do the online thing, and things are gonna be really difficult for him.

I'm still pretty well doing things the older ways, just b/c to ME its more simple. I still use money orders quite I bit and one time I had a HELL of a time getting an international money order. And I think it's bad that just b/c ppl don't do it much anymore, to have it totally not avaiable to those of us who do.


And I know it's gonna be hell and chaotic if mail stops running, but I DO think it will, ppl are going to stop wanting to go to ppl's houses to deliver.

I mean when you take all the things that used to be delivered and ppl who came to your homes to do things, such as:

Doctors used to come to your homes and treat you.

Used to they would come and deliver babies at your home,

Pharmacies used to deliver medicines.

Grocery stores used to.



I'm honestly surprised mail is still delivered.

I mean when you take all the things that used to be delivered and ppl who came to your homes to do things, such as:

Doctors used to come to your homes and treat you.

Used to they would come and deliver babies at your home,

Pharmacies used to deliver medicines.

Grocery stores used to.

You can't compare these to the USPS, it's like comparing a ferrari to a yugo.

I dont think mail delivery will be a thing of the past for awhile. The older generation still uses mail for bills on a regular basis. Heck I was stuck behind a older woman in Target last weekend that paid with a check! I didnt think that was even done anymore! If they drop it completely people would have to ecards and such for birthdays or evites for parties and weddings and I dont see classic wedding invitations going away anytime soon

I dont think mail delivery will be a thing of the past for awhile. The older generation still uses mail for bills on a regular basis. Heck I was stuck behind a older woman in Target last weekend that paid with a check! I didnt think that was even done anymore! If they drop it completely people would have to ecards and such for birthdays or evites for parties and weddings and I dont see classic wedding invitations going away anytime soon


That's just it though, ppl don't care about older people nor the minority nowdays, EVERYTHING is geared toward the mass and the crowd, people don't care about the little person anymore.

Older people have more power than most think. They have time during there day to sit on the phone and complain

This is really sad, but inevitable... :(

I don't mind a 5-day mail delivery if it helps with their budget. I think they should have kept the Saturday delivery though & given up Mondays since many of the holidays fall on Mondays.

I was reminded of this thread.

My grandma woke up this morning saying she had had a dream that the post office was taking away EVERYONE'S mail routes. lol


She is upset about this Sat mail stopping as well.

5 Reasons why this happening

1. My Comcast bill is emailed to me

2. My T-Mobile bill is emailed to me

3. My Gas Bill is emailed to me

4. My Electric bill is emailed to me

5. I don't mail rent checks anymore, I pay online


:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

While I pay most of my bills online, I still get paper statements. I want a permanent record of my payments. The cable company charges too much (IMO), so the least they can do is send me a statement in the mail.

;)

And I can see reading these replies ppl think it's a good thing, b/c everyone is ONLINE nowdays. I think this is where our culture is SAD, everything is geared toward the majority and the BIG BOYS now days, no one cares about the little person, believe it or not, not EVERYONE does their whole life by the internet, some folks STILL depend on mail but I guess just to hell with them, huh?
Their not discontinuing all mail, just cutting out a day. The people who depend on mail still have five days. Nobody's saying to hell with them.

Their not discontinuing all mail, just cutting out a day. The people who depend on mail still have five days. Nobody's saying to hell with them.


Well I think this is just the beggining of it.

Mark my words, like I said, the next thing they will be wanting to do is only deliver mail 3 days a week, (Mon, Wed and Fri) They have already been talking about that, though THAT issue has kinda died down, give it a year or so and it will pop back up again, and that's all they will be obssesed with is cutting out Tues. and Thurs. mail delivery.

I wouldn't be so bothered by it IF it were just Sat. delivery being cut out, but judging by past history I think this will follow the same pattern everything else does, it's just the beggining.


As it will be, when they cut out Sat. mail delivery, whenever there is a holliday on Mon. the mail back-up is going to be HELL! And finally they will want to quit fooling with it altogether, and say if you want your mail, you come to where WE are.

Mark my words, like I said, the next thing they will be wanting to do is only deliver mail 3 days a week, (Mon, Wed and Fri) They have already been talking about that.

Do you have a link to any of this alleged discussion? The elimination of Saturday first class delivery was talked about a long time before it was ever decided upon but not once have I ever heard anything about 3 day delivery.

Do you have a link to any of this alleged discussion? The elimination of Saturday first class delivery was talked about a long time before it was ever decided upon but not once have I ever heard anything about 3 day delivery.


I WILL try and find it, and post it, but they certainly talked about it on the news about a year ago.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20081162-503544.html


I know 15 years, but still. This will be the next thing they will whine and whine about until it happens.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20081162-503544.html


I know 15 years, but still. This will be the next thing they will whine and whine about until it happens.


Thanks for the link. :)

Probably when I die there will be no mail at all. Computers will take care of everything. Amazing what the future generations will see.

I'd hate to think there'd be a time where's no mail at all. Like browsing in a store, there are some things that can't be replaced in the online world.

Probably when I die there will be no mail at all. Computers will take care of everything. Amazing what the future generations will see.


I don't really think it's all that amazing, it's SAD really. I miss things like going to video stores, and things like that.

Unless they extend life spands I am really thankful I probably wont see that generation.

I really don't look forward to a world where EVERYTHING goes out of existence except 1 giant cellphone that everone's brain will be plugged into, where ppl won't even have houses. Very boring world if you ask me.

I'd hate to think there'd be a time where's no mail at all. Like browsing in a store, there are some things that can't be replaced in the online world.


EXACTLY!!!! I mean I like actually DOING STUFF still.

I like to actually shop, I do most of my shopping online now mainly b/c I can't find anything in stores anymore.

And how the hell are ppl supposed to get packages if the mail totally stops, I guess it will get to the point where ppl will have no need nor want for ANYTHING anymore, just a computer to be implanted into everyone's brains.

Future generations are just gonna be a bunch of pathetic blobs with with arms and legs hanging limp that they cant' use anymore.


I'd still rather take a REAL vacation, rather than having the images inplanted into my brain.


It will be hilarious though when the central cellphone or the mother computer that everone is plugged into breaks down, they will all be screwed!

AH HA!!! Just heard a commercial on TV, that was talking about how they are talking about a bill to NOT ONLY stop Sat. mail delivery but also to stop ALL door-to-door delivery, don't know how true it is but....

As I said it WILL happen!

Like I said this will be the next thing they will keep pushing and pushing and persuing until it gets done.

i don't think ending Saturday delivery is a big deal, but it is also not the answer to all their problems

there are some other things they could do to be leaner and more profitable - in Canada they have closed down a lot of less profitable post offices and opened up post office counters inside drug stores and grocery stores in their place - heck most new construction there they don't even have to your door delivery, they deliver it to lock boxes at the end of each block. The point is that there are other things they could do to save money (a big part of which would be to change their requirements to pre-fund the pension fund).

I hope it doesn't get to a point where the only way to get your mail is to go down to the post office. People like me who can't drive will be very in convenienced.

I hope it doesn't get to a point where the only way to get your mail is to go down to the post office. People like me who can't drive will be very in convenienced.


Sadly I think that's exactly where it's headed, and for the ppl who can't drive, the elderly, etc... they will just have to get there the best way they can.

That's the way it is now days, you go to THEM, it doesn't matter what kind of shape you're in, you just have to get there the best way you can or do without.

That's shown by the way elderly ppl who can hardly walk, have to go to the hospital and walk 2 miles through the parking lot in 32 degree weather to get to their appointments, when used to they would come right to your home.


Home health therapy services will also cease I predict.

That's shown by the way elderly ppl who can hardly walk, have to go to the hospital and walk 2 miles through the parking lot in 32 degree weather to get to their appointments, when used to they would come right to your home.


Home health therapy services will also cease I predict.


Like I said before, You can't compare Doctors no longer making house calls to the delivery of the mail. How long has it been since Doctors stopped the practice of making house calls? I'm nearly 50 and I swear that in all my years I've never known a Dr. that done it. Everyone in the U.S. gets mail, maybe not every day of the week but they still get mail and I don't see how the USPS can stop home delivery entirely and have everyone pick up their mail at the P.O. They complain all the time about being in the red and are constantly making cuts and raising postal rates in an effort to save money but the idea of no more home delivery is ludicrous. It might work in small towns with low population but highly populated areas would have to build new facilities or expand their current ones just to hold all that mail. Also, if this did happen, getting in and out of the P.O. would be a nightmare due to the limited parking which would only get worse if we all had to pick up our mail.

If the last posters comments come true, I can see more and more online service. Sometimes you wonder how life will be even 30 years from today.
You look 30yrs back and see what changes we have seen.

I am a Rural Carrier sub and thankfully, I will still have my job. Instead of working Saturdays, I'll be working every other Friday and some weekdays.

Will the PO building be opened to pick up or mail items? I have a PO box. Will mail still be delivered to my box on Saturdays?

Will the PO building be opened to pick up or mail items? I have a PO box. Will mail still be delivered to my box on Saturdays?

Yes, P.O. Box mail will still be delivered on Saturday and Post Offices will still be opened.

AH HA!!! Just heard a commercial on TV, that was talking about how they are talking about a bill to NOT ONLY stop Sat. mail delivery but also to stop ALL door-to-door delivery, don't know how true it is but....

As I said it WILL happen!

Like I said this will be the next thing they will keep pushing and pushing and persuing until it gets done.

Pay close attention the next time you see that commercial. They talk about the unnecessary congressional mandate. What they say is true. Congress is very much to blame for the postal service's financial problems.

Yes, P.O. Box mail will still be delivered on Saturday and Post Offices will still be opened.
Great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:happyface

This is from Jay Leno's Headlines from last week:

Like I said before, You can't compare Doctors no longer making house calls to the delivery of the mail. How long has it been since Doctors stopped the practice of making house calls? I'm nearly 50 and I swear that in all my years I've never known a Dr. that done it. Everyone in the U.S. gets mail, maybe not every day of the week but they still get mail and I don't see how the USPS can stop home delivery entirely and have everyone pick up their mail at the P.O. They complain all the time about being in the red and are constantly making cuts and raising postal rates in an effort to save money but the idea of no more home delivery is ludicrous. It might work in small towns with low population but highly populated areas would have to build new facilities or expand their current ones just to hold all that mail. Also, if this did happen, getting in and out of the P.O. would be a nightmare due to the limited parking which would only get worse if we all had to pick up our mail.


Well it's not just Doctors not making house calls any more, it's EVERYTHING nowdays.

I just use doctors a lot as an e.g. b/c I think that's a VERY important service, medical care, and it just makes me mad that older ppl and sick ppl who can hardly walk or move have to get out in all kinds of weather to make their appointments, just to go to a doctor who half of the time won't tell you anything other than come back in 5 monthes.

It's pharmacies and everything like that. There is just a lack of care anymore.

If the last posters comments come true, I can see more and more online service. Sometimes you wonder how life will be even 30 years from today.
You look 30yrs back and see what changes we have seen.


30 years from now? I see a totally empty desolate planet where NOTHING exisits, no cities, no stores, no restaurant, ppl won't even live in houses, everyone will just be lined up with their brains somehow attached to one giant computer, that will perhaps create some kind of virtual reality.

Like in the song everyone's legs and arms will just be hanging limp, no one will know how to use them, the use of the body will have ceased years ago.


Kinda kidding, but honestly would NOT surprise me!!!

Congress to force postal service to continue Saturday delivery. (see first post)

The plot thickens...

Congress, how inept can you be? :rolleyes:

5 Reasons why this happening

1. My Comcast bill is emailed to me

2. My T-Mobile bill is emailed to me

3. My Gas Bill is emailed to me

4. My Electric bill is emailed to me

5. I don't mail rent checks anymore, I pay online


:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

You should go green, and get your bills and pay them online, it's faster and easier and alot of places give you a discount if you get your bills online and pay them that way. I get $5 off my car insurance just for getting my bill online

When the story first broke about mail being discontinued on Saturdays, my mailman told us that he doubted that it would ever happen.

When the story first broke about mail being discontinued on Saturdays, my mailman told us that he doubted that it would ever happen.

It likely won't. I'm a rural carrier sub and the Postal Service basically went behind Congress's back and made the decision without their approval.