MCHUGH TO PLAY ROLE IN FATE OF PROPOSAL ON CLOSURE OF
POSTAL FACILITIES

by Marc Heller, Times Washington Correspondent
First published: Saturday, June 7, 2003

WASHINGTON - Few issues are as unpopular in Congress as
closing military bases. But base closures may come in
handy for a new cause: shutting post offices.

Some lawmakers are considering creating an independent
commission, modeled after a base closure panel, to
recommend post offices for closing.

Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del., is working on just such an idea,
which he proposes as part of a larger package to revamp
the U.S. Postal Service. The postal agency continues to
struggle with lower-than-expected first class mail revenue
and a dark outlook for its future finances.

Under the proposal, the Postal Service would give Congress
a plan for providing mail services - much as the Pentagon
must submit a force structure plan before proposing bases
for closure. The postal agency would also submit a list of
postal facilities for closure, which would be reviewed by
an independent commission.

Rep. John M. McHugh, R-Pierrepont Manor, will play a role
in the legislation's fate. He chairs a House panel on
postal reform and has become the House's expert on the
issue through several years of trying to pass a bill to
help the agency survive in an era of electronic
communication. The latest House effort failed in the
Government Reform Committee last year.

Mr. McHugh has fought against the closure of north country
post offices, and Congress has forbidden closures for
strictly financial reasons. But the congressman realizes
that closures are one way the Postal Service can save
money, said his deputy chief of staff, Dana L. Johnson.

While Mr. McHugh does not have a specific formula in mind
for shutting post offices, Ms. Johnson said, "They've got
to raise revenue or reduce costs. Obviously, closing post
offices is one way."

The congressman has also advocated for "contract" post
offices, in which the agency pays people to run post
offices out their homes or businesses, for example.

Ultimately, Ms. Johnson said, Mr. McHugh's goal is to
maintain mail delivery to every address. But the Postal
Service may need more bureaucratic freedom to guarantee
that, she said.

Mr. McHugh has worked with Mr. Carper on the legislation
and welcomes the Senate's attention to the issue, Ms.
Johnson said. "Congressman McHugh thinks it's a positive
step forward," she said. "It's just a dialog that's long
overdue."

Congress is not likely to act on the measure before July,
when a presidential commission is due to report on the
state of the Postal Service and recommend reforms.

E-mail: mheller@wdt.net