A “We the People” online petition to the White House to “Save the Postal Service — Save American Jobs” has collected only 22,903 signatures (as of press time).
The petition must obtain 100,000 signatures by May 24 in order to be reviewed by officials in the Obama Administration and have an official response issued.
The petition was spearheaded by Oregon Congressman Peter DeFazio in conjunction with a bill — H.R. 630 — he introduced to save the Post Office.
Similar legislation (S. 316) has been filed in the U.S. Senate by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont).
The petition states that roughly 80 percent of USPS financial losses since 2007 are due to a Congressional mandate to prefund 75 years of future retiree health benefits in a 10-year period. In 2012, USPS lost a record $15.9 billion, but $11.1 billion of that loss went to prefund health care.
The petition calls on USPS to maintain six-day delivery, to re-establish overnight delivery standards to ensure the timely delivery of mail and prevent the closure of mail plants (and jobs), and to end a 2006 ban prohibiting USPS from offering new products and services.
The petition asks: “Does the (Obama) Administration support HR 630 and S 316 to make these changes, save American jobs, and allow USPS to remain competitive?”
To sign the petition, go here, and follow the instructions.
Thanks so much for posting this. Still a ways to go for sigs, but the message is still loud and clear. Don’t let Rep. Issa and the Postmaster General destroy the postal service.