Tester criticizes Postal Service decision to cut six-day mail

Senator demands Postal Service execs share the sacrifice they demand from Montanans

(U.S. SENATE) – Senator Jon Tester today criticized the U.S. Postal Service’s proposal to cut six-day mail delivery. Under the plan, the Postal Service will continue delivering packages six days a week, but stop regular mail delivery on Saturdays:

“This is an irresponsible change proposed by Postal Service executives that refuse to share in the sacrifice they are demanding of everyday Montanans. Six-day mail delivery lets folks run their businesses and get everyday necessities, and this decision will further slow down mail delivery in Montana and hurt Montana businesses. I will keep fighting to pass strong, bipartisan postal reform that preserves efficient mail delivery and holds Postal Service executives accountable.”

Tester backed a bipartisan Senate plan last year that gave the Postal Service the flexibility it needs to restructure while protecting postal service in rural states like Montana, but the House of Representatives refused to vote on the plan. Tester also amended the bill to cut Postal Service executives’ pay and deny bonuses.

Tester, a member of the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee, also announced that the Committee will hold a hearing on the future of the U.S. Postal Service on February 13.

The Postal Service is struggling financially in part due to the 2006 law – enacted before Tester was a member of the Senate – that requires the Postal Service to prepay retirement benefits of postal employees at a rate higher than necessary.

Under the plan the Postal Service announced today, mail would be delivered to homes and businesses only from Monday through Friday, but would still be delivered to post office boxes on Saturdays. Post offices now open on Saturdays would remain open on Saturdays.