Draft legislation that would essentially gut the postal reform bill pending before the House Government Reform Committee is being circulated by Rep. Steven LaTourette (R-OH), a member of its postal subcommittee.
LaTourette expects to introduce his amendment to the Postal Modernization Act, sponsored by postal subcommittee chairman Rep. John McHugh (R-NY), later this month when it comes up before the House Government Reform Committee.
So far committee chairman Rep. Dan Burton (R-IN) has not indicated exactly when McHugh’s bill, would be considered by the full panel.
Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) plans to introduce a 22-page substitute when the full committee considers McHugh’s bill. He wouldn’t say what his measure would contain.
LaTourette’s measure, written in the form of an amendment to McHugh’s bill, would eliminate a controversial provision in the bill allowing the U.S. Postal Service to form a private corporation to oversee its competitive products and services.
Besides allowing the USPS to split its products and services into competitive and non-competitive, McHugh’s bill would permit the USPS to negotiate service agreements with large mailers, set some of its own rates and increase the Postal Rate Commission’s authority over the USPS.
At the same it would give the PRC complete authority over the USPS and its rates while streamlining the rate-making process.
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