McCain Jumps In On Postal Problems

Seems everyone wants a hand in the U.S. Postal Service's troubles -- especially as the clock ticks toward the agency's impending default on obligations to its retiree health benefits account.

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., on Friday introduced a companion bill to legislation sponsored earlier this year by Reps. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., and Dennis Ross, R-Fla. The House subcommittee responsible for postal issues on Wednesday moved that proposal on to the full committee level.

The bills would allow USPS to drop a delivery day and adjust its labor costs, specifically by changing benefits and collective bargaining protections. That covers some of the changes postal officials have said are necessary to get back on the road to fiscal health, but Democrats in the House are concerned that employees and retirees will lose out in the process.

There are a number of postal reform proposals already in play -- and it they continue to pop up as the Postal Service inches closer to its Sept. 30 deadline.