The following is a perspective by postal commentator Gene Del Polito. The views expressed are solely the author's.

The clamor from House Republicans for the Postal Service to do something to reduce its costs continues unabated. Yet no one in Congress, including those clamoring Members, have the stomach to face the unhappiness of their constituents if the Postal Service should choose to reduce its costs by closing or consolidating a postal facility within their state or district. "Down-size, right-size, do anything to reduce costs, but please, oh please, don't do so in my back yard."

To be fair, the Postal Service hasn't shown aplomb in its handling of the postal facility consolidation-closure issue. In May 2009, it began by announcing that it was considering the closure of 3,105 of its post office branches and stations. It has over 36,000 of retail postal facilities. Shortly thereafter, the USPS indicated that the number of possible closures could be fewer than 1,000. The number actually closed has been a fraction of that.

So, what is it? Close thousands or just a bit more than a hundred? What's a Congress to believe? Despite the pittance of closures, though, the weeping and gnashing of teeth from Members of Congress has been astounding. "Don't close you. Don't close me. Close the postal facility behind the tree."

Could it be that the Postal Service simply has not got the procedures in place that it needs to address facility consolidations and closures in a way that can win some confidence in Congress? Could it be that Members of Congress aren't being as fully informed in advance of what the Postal Service is doing or intends to do that may affect their constituents back home? Could it be that the Postal Service has not done enough to ensure that the closure of a facility does not have to mean a denial or reduction of service? Could it be that something more needs to be done?

The political challenges the Postal Service faces in the facilities consolidation-closure process is not unlike that faced by the military in its efforts to close or consolidate military bases and installations. While Congress hates to admit it, it really did come up with an acceptable approach in its creation of a Base Relocation And Closure Commission (BRAC). The whole process of closing and relocating military facilities was largely taken out of the political arena, and constrained efforts by Members of Congress to make the closure and relocation process a shambles.

Perhaps it's time to take a similar approach as far as postal facility closures and consolidations are concerned. Perhaps it's time for the Postal Service to have a BRAC Commission of its own. But rather than create some new governmental bureaucracy to take on this task, let's explore some other way of doing this. One approach might be as follows.

At present, we have nine presidentially-appointed Governors of the Postal Service. Let's put them to work. Let's have the Governors organize themselves into a postal BRAC-like commission. Let's require management to bring its consolidation and closure proposals before the Governors. Let's have the Governors do the vetting. Let's have them determine the strength or weakness of postal management's proposals. Let's have them take prime responsibility for communicating with all affected constituencies how these proposals could or would affect the provision of services their communities require. Then let's set things up so that once the Governors have come to a consolidation or closure decision, the decision would stand unless and until a majority of Congress votes to override.

The Governors already are on the payroll. Put 'em to work! If they're not paid enough, increase their pay. If they lack the staff to accomplish this task, let 'em hire staff. Or, better yet, they already have a significant staff at their disposal through the Office of the Inspector General. Use them.

This postal facility closure nonsense has got to stop. The process needs to be handled by people who understand and must operate the system. Congress clearly needs some form of political cover for decisions that affect their own constituents. Let's give it to them.

Congress won't do anything about the retirement benefits matter. Postal volumes are plummeting. So this is not the time to contemplate more postal rate increases. And Congress just can't keep its mitts off the closure process. So let's have Congress step out of the way and allow the Postal Service to do something to right-size the system to ensure a continuing and self-sufficient universal mail service.