It has been said that neither rain, sleet or snow can stop the mailman. However, the national recession is threatening to slow him down.
That would be unfortunate for southern West Virginia and Southwest Virginia. Both are rural regions that are home to a large population of senior citizens who depend upon the convenience of daily mail delivery service. For many seniors across our region, a six-day mail service helps ensure a timely arrival of their monthly Social Security check, as well as medication by mail and other important letters and packages.
However, now there is talk by the U.S. Postal Service of cutting back its delivery services.
Postmaster General John Potter is seeking permission from Congress to cut mail delivery to five days a week. He argues the post office will run out of money by the year’s end if it doesn’t get help. He says the agency lost $2.8 billion last year, and is looking at even steeper losses this year.
The proposed reduction in mail services is in addition to another 2-cent increase in the cost of stamps that is scheduled to take effect May 11.
We urge Congress to hit the breaks on the postal service proposal to cut mail delivery from six to five days.
Fortunately, legislation has already been introduced supporting the continuation of six-day mail service across the country. U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., is among local lawmakers supporting House Resolution 173.
Rahall also is working on House Resolution 22, a proposed bill that would allow the United States Postal Service to pay health benefits from the Postal Service Retiree Health Benefits Fund.
The legislation would allow the postal service to pay for its share of current retiree’s health insurance out of the existing Postal Service Retiree Health Benefits Fund which has $32 billion in revenue, Rahall said. Under current law, the fund is closed to use for current retiree premiums until 2016.
We join our local lawmakers in supporting House Resolution 173. A continuation of six-day mail service is critical to all residents of our region, especially those who are retired, disabled and handicapped. The six-day delivery service is also vital to those who live in remote and mountainous areas of southern West Virginia and Southwest Virginia where a drive to the post office isn’t a two- or three-minute trip down the road. During periods of inclement weather, it can be a drive along a narrow, mountainous and windy roadway that is covered with snow and ice.
The mailman must continue delivering the mail six days a week. Anything less could be devastating to the quality of life of those who reside in southern West Virginia and Southwest Virginia.
Editorials
April 16, 2009
Mail delivery
Six-day service critical to the region
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