Connolly Calls on USPS to Release Hidden Report

WASHINGTON – Virginia Congressman Gerry Connolly, D-Fairfax, Prince William, filed a motion with the Postal Regulatory Commission today to make public a study on the impact of mail service cuts on United States Postal Service revenue.  The USPS has filed a request with the Postal Regulatory Commission to keep the study secret. 

The Postal Service study quantified the impact on revenue of reducing mail service from 6 to 5 days, eliminating next-day mail service, closing mail processing facilities, and closing thousands of Post Offices.  The study may also have considered the impact of stamp price increases on projected revenue.

“It has come to my attention that the Postal Service doesn’t want the public to see the results of this study,” said Connolly.  “In a competitive marketplace, you lose customers and revenue when you raise prices and reduce services.  That simple fact has been missing from the debate.”

Congressman Connolly has argued that Postal Service reform should begin with the development of a new business model for the 21st century that would allow it to raise new revenue through innovative products and services.  He has introduced legislation, HR 1262, that would allow the Postal Service to co-locate with private facilities and state and local governments, sell new products and services through the mail, and expand voting by mail. 

“It is fundamentally dishonest to tout the cost-saving impacts of your proposals, while ignoring the reality that those same proposals could lead to self-reinforcing declines in revenue,” said Connolly.  “This report should be made public so we can all see the complete picture and make informed decisions about the future business model of the United States Postal Service.”

-Press release 

Virginia Congressman Gerry Connolly, D-Fairfax, Prince William, filed a motion with the Postal Regulatory Commission today to make public a study on the impact of mail service cuts on United States Postal Service revenue. The USPS has filed a request with the Postal Regulatory Commission to keep the study secret.

The Postal Service study quantified the impact on revenue of reducing mail service from 6 to 5 days, eliminating next-day mail service, closing mail processing facilities, and closing thousands of Post Offices. The study may also have considered the impact of stamp price increases on projected revenue.

“It has come to my attention that the Postal Service doesn’t want the public to see the results of this study,” said Connolly. “In a competitive marketplace, you lose customers and revenue when you raise prices and reduce services. That simple fact has been missing from the debate.”

Congressman Connolly has argued that Postal Service reform should begin with the development of a new business model for the 21st century that would allow it to raise new revenue through innovative products and services. He has introduced legislation, HR 1262, that would allow the Postal Service to co-locate with private facilities and state and local governments, sell new products and services through the mail, and expand voting by mail.

“It is fundamentally dishonest to tout the cost-saving impacts of your proposals, while ignoring the reality that those same proposals could lead to self-reinforcing declines in revenue,” said Connolly. “This report should be made public so we can all see the complete picture and make informed decisions about the future business model of the United States Postal Service.”

-Press release