10/2/2017 During the latter part of this week, the House of Representatives will vote on a budget bill (H.Con.Res. 71) that would, in part, require the Oversight and Government Reform Committee to slash postal and federal benefits by at least $32 billion over the next decade. In addition, the budget bill would move the Postal Service on-budget and recommends enactment of Postal reform like H.R. 756, the Postal Reform Act of 2017. Meanwhile, the Senate Budget Committee will be considering a yet-to-be numbered budget bill that does not include any of these provisions.
The House proposed cuts are in the form of “reconciliation instructions” to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, and targets federal and postal retirement and health benefits. Although H.Con.Res. 71 does not identify the specific cuts, the only programs within the jurisdiction of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee that would yield such cuts are retirement and health benefits. Consequently, increased retirement and FEHBP contributions, reduced retirement COLAs and benefits are all real possibilities.
In addition, H.Con.Res. 71 calls for the reversal of a provision included in the Omnibus Reconciliation Act 0f 1989 that took the Postal Service off-budget. The existing statute means that postal revenue and expenses have not been part of the federal budget, and ensures that postal appropriations are not subject to automatic budget sequestration. The Postal Service’s only appropriation the year was $35 million, which reimbursed to the agency for overseas voting, nonprofit discounts and mail for the blind. Placing the USPS on-budget jeopardizes the nominal appropriation and could lead to greater congressional entanglement in postal policies.
Early this week, the FAIR Coalition – the association representing postal and federal employee and retiree groups – will be sending a letter asking members of the House to oppose any budget bill that contains “reconciliation instructions” to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and to convey their opposition to the House leadership. It is also crucial that UPMA members communicate UPMA’s strong opposition of the “reconciliation instructions” to their members of Congress. The U.S. Capitol switchboard number is 202-224-3121.
As a USPS employee who disability retired @ 57 years I think I should have a voice.
Congress,
It dismays me that the USPS is still trying to avoid Congressional oversight into their operations. Why? I worked during the period of drastically declining profits. The USPS goes this way to plug the deficit (think station closures, later deliveries,) the public goes that way. What is left of their traditional customer for letters and advertising are few. The now generation uses cell phones. Packages are the new revenue and online retailers are doing a phenomenal job of getting the items to the USPS and other mailers for delivery.
Better revenue opportunity than ever before.
So, what makes the USPS think that they can invalidate the employment contract with prior employees to give more bonuses? That’s all it is, bonuses.
Congress, I am so thankful I had the opportunity to work for the USPS agency, but I gave all I had and I deserve everything promised upon hire.
They already hurt us with Social Security if under CSRS. Called double dipping. Yet State and City workers get a pension, social security and medical benefits. It seems the USPS is once again the cash cow the failed Congress will attack. Congress is a sad group of individuals who get paid well for a p/t job that has no goals, no expectations. Once in it’s a job for life. Let’s all remember this. Vote out all incumbents. Read the book Congressman X.
Why is it that Congress can give themselves pay raises while at the same time cut the benefits of the Postal retires. I haven’t see!m one Congressman or Senator who is willing to take a pay cut but they are willing to take away the benefits that we have earned. I will do my best to try and make sure that when it time for elections that I will make sure that I will go out of my way to see that they are not reelected.
This will make it even less attractive for people to consider the USPS for a career. I know it would probably be incremental – those already retired I doubt would be affected – we damn well better not be targeted – but this is just the latest in a long running effort to screw postal employees, and I doubt it’ll pass. Mid-terms are fast approaching, and the sheer number of USPS employees and their votes will hopefully make Republicans think twice about doing something like this. As for going on-budget, it would be to rape and pillage any profits the USPS might make, or make up. They already have that scheme in place with the retirement pre-funding scam. What we need is for all employees to band together and vote the Republicans out. That won’t happen, of course because I know of some who would vote gleefully for Joseph Stalin if he came back from the dead and called himself a Republican. If I know one thing, it’s that this country has even more truly idiotic and mean spirited racist hatemongers than we thought possible. They must be outvoted at the polls because the Service will truly be in jeopardy if a law is ever passed like this latest abomination.
The Congress needs to stay out of the Postal Services business. Get their own budget in balance. Keep us off budget.
So now they want to cut benefits. More costs for retirement contributions, elimination of the S. S. supplement, and C.O.L.A.’S for employees under FERS. How many Federal employees voted for this rape? How many employees didn’t bother to vote at all? Well as long as the rich get tax cuts, more military toys, and more private jet trips for President Dump’s cabinet members happen the cuts will be beneficial! Next time read, and take the time and vote!