Association for Postal Commerce 1901 N. Fort Myer Dr., Ste 401 * Arlington, VA 22209-1609 * USA * Ph.: +1 703 524 0096 * Fax: +1 703 524 1871 Postal News from March 2012: March 31, 2012 Washington Post: Rep. Gerald E. Connolly (D-Va.), a member of the U.S. House subcommittee that oversees the USPS, has criticized the agency’s approach to reducing its massive deficit. “The lack of analytical work at the top of the Postal Service makes you weep,” Connolly said. “No corporation would be managed this way.” In a study released to Congress that analyzed the effect of closing processing plants, the reduced mail volume could cause a loss in revenue of $1.3 billion, the study found. When you are already $8 billion short, losing another $1.3 billion is moving in the wrong direction. The study was originally confidential, but Connolly successfully pushed for its release. The Hill: A disagreement over tactics in the Senate may derail efforts to avert the closure of hundreds of mail- processing centers and rural post offices around the country. Congress will have only a month after the two-week April recess to pass legislation before a moratorium on post office closures expires on May 15. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) had planned to bring legislation to the floor this past week to overhaul the U.S. Postal Service to minimize the impact on mail delivery but he cannot round up enough votes in his caucus. Reid in recent days has worked out a deal with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), a vocal advocate of stopping cuts in service planned by the postal service, to advance the legislation but two key Democratic senators, Max Baucus (Mont.) and Jeff Merkley (Ore.) are holding out for more. The fight could make it tough for the Senate to pass the postal reform bill and win approval from the House before the five-month moratorium on closing post offices expires. USA Today: The USPS has launched a marketing campaign to promote "Every Door Direct Mail," a shipping service for small business with postage rates starting at 14.5 cents. "Every Door Direct Mail is designed for small businesses," said Paul Vogel, the agency's president and chief marketing and sales officer. "For less than 15 cents a piece, our customers can send fliers, menus, brochures and advertisements in highly targeted ways. Times Herald-Record: Congress adjourned for its Passover and Easter recess without adopting any legislation that could stop the closure of U.S. Postal Service facilities. The Postal Service's processing and distribution center in the Stewart Industrial Park and 222 other centers across the nation are slated to close over a three-year period — a move the Postal Service says will save about $13 billion a year. Congress is not due back until April 16 — just under a month before a moratorium on closures, to which the Postal Service agreed, expires May 15. PRWeb: Intelisent is excited to announce that they are one of the first companies offering a service that provides enhanced utilization of the US Postal Service’s new Informed Visibility Program. Intelisent is uniquely positioned to fully process the new data generated by Informed Visibility – and, most importantly, translate that information into solutions that can help businesses strategize and market more effectively. World News: UN Postal Administration releases postage stamps to honour World Autism Awareness Day. Photo: UNPA30 March 2012 � The annual observance of World Autism Awareness Day should spur global action to combat the "unacceptable" discrimination, abuse and isolation that people with the disorder and their loved ones face, according to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. "Autism is not limited to a single region or a country; it is a worldwide challenge that requires global action," states Mr. Ban's message for the Day, observed annually on 2 April. "People with autism are equal citizens who should enjoy all human rights and fundamental freedoms." In December 2007, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution declaring 2 April as World Autism Awareness Day in an effort to draw attention to a pervasive disorder that affects tens of millions around the globe. Huntington News: U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.) late Thursday introduced legislation to strengthen the hand of rural communities in fighting post office closures in southern West Virginia. The bill – H.R. 4335, the Postal Service Accountability Act – would strengthen the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC), the independent regulator of the Postal Service, enabling it to act as a check on postal closures, directing the Commission to focus on the community impact of a closure. As part of the appeals process, which already exists in current law, the measure would give the PRC a binding authority to block a post office or sorting facility closure, and would increase, from two to three, the number of Commissioners needed to affirm a closure. Mainichi Daily News: Japan Post Service Co., the postal services unit of the Japan Post Group, is expected to log an operating profit of 9.7 billion yen in fiscal 2012, returning to the black for the first time in three years. Direct Marketing Association: Judge Robert Blackburn of the U. S. District Court for the District of Colorado issued an order granting the DMA’s motion for summary judgment on both Counts I and II of the DMA’s complaint challenging the 2010 Colorado use tax notice and reporting law. Government Executive: When a government agency or a business runs into serious financial trouble, it’s often a sign that somewhere along the way oversight fell short. The U.S. Postal Service, which lost $3.3 billion in the first quarter of fiscal 2012 alone and is arguably in the worst financial shape right now of any federal agency or major American company, is not wanting for watchdogs. The quasi-governmental agency—which operates like a business without the benefit of appropriated funds—takes direction and advice from several bodies with different roles and often competing interests, including Congress, the Government Accountability Office, USPS inspector general, Postal Regulatory Commission and Board of Governors; USPS also must comply with the 2002 Sarbanes-Oxley Act. In addition, hundreds of other stakeholders and customers nationwide weigh in on everything from postal rates to post office closings. That’s a lot of oversight for an entity that doesn’t receive congressional appropriations. So with all those watchful eyes, how did the Postal Service get to the brink of bankruptcy? National Association of Postmasters of the U.S.: "Senate to Act on Postal Bill in April; Suprise Pronouncement at Health Hearing" PRNewswire: The U.S. Postal Service is planning to revise its mailing standards and has recently filed with the Postal Regulatory Commission to allow commercial mailers to include logos, trademarks, brand images or other kinds of marketing designs in the permit imprint indicia area of their mail. The Picture Permit Imprint Indicia offering will provide participating companies with immediate recognition of their logos, products or promotions while boosting the visual impact of their mail. March 30, 2012 Bloomberg: Senator Joe Lieberman, a Connecticut (BEESCT) independent and onetime Democrat known for frequent splits with his former party, has found a fresh way to stand apart: He’s the only retiring senator with a solid chance to leave a mark on policy this year. Lieberman is working on a measure to bolster the nation’s computer defenses and another overhauling the financially struggling U.S. Postal Service. Whether he leaves the Senate on his own terms isn’t assured. His two final bills are hitting snags. Even if they make it through the Senate, House passage isn’t assured. The Postal Service bill would authorize cost-cutting steps to save it from bankruptcy in an era of e- mail. The measure would provide more revenue, in part by allowing the Postal Service to ship wine and beer and boost some rates. It would cut billions of dollars of mandated pre-payments to its retiree health benefits fund. The Postal Service, which wants to end Saturday mail delivery and close as many as 3,700 post offices, would have to keep six-day service for at least two more years and go through a designated process to decide which facilities to close. This week, a Senate vote to consider the postal bill fell nine votes short, so it won’t come up until after a two- week April recess. Some senators say rural states aren’t guarded enough against post office closures and reduced mail delivery. Lieberman said he and other bill sponsors want to find a “sweet spot” with opponents by imposing even tougher reviews of postal office closures in an amendment they’ll offer. Post & Parcel: Czech Post said yesterday that it was able to increase its operating income during 2011 despite the steady decline in revenues from its traditional postal services. The Post said that while demand fell for correspondence and postal orders, its parcel services have been booming, while a new early morning newspaper delivery contract with publisher Vltava Labe Press was also bearing fruit. The Association for Postal Commerce has filed comments in response to the USPS' proposed rulemaking on POSTNET Discontinuation. Institute for Research on the Economics of Taxation: New IRET paper: "Why The U.S. Postal Service Is In Greater Financial Trouble Than Most Foreign Postal Services - The Role Of Government Micromanagement" USPS Area and Local Contact Listing Now Available On Tuesday, March 27, 2012, USPS Industry Engagement and Outreach made a listing of Postal Service area and local level contacts available on RIBBS, the National Customer Support Center Rapid Information Bulletin Board.