Sen. Moran introduces rural post office bill
If passed, Admire Post Office may be protected from closure
Special to the Gazette
Friday, October 21, 2011
U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) recently introduced the Protecting Rural Post Offices Act, S.1668, to help prevent the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) from closing rural post offices. Rather than forcing rural residents, many of which are elderly, to drive long distances to another post office, the bill would limit the distance to no farther than ten miles. If passed, this bill would help stop the potential closure of the post office in Admire, Kansas, which is currently on the U.S. Postal Service’s proposed closure list.
“This legislation is an important part of making certain rural America is not forgotten during the decision making process in Washington,” Sen. Moran said. “Because of local post offices, many small businesses can still keep their doors open in rural Kansas. And, for many senior citizens who no longer have the ability to drive long distances, it is the local post office that gives them a personal and business connection to the rest of the world.
The U.S. Postal Service, which does not receive its primary funding from the U.S. government, faces financial challenges and has proposed closing nearly 3,700 post offices across the country — including 134 post offices in Kansas. Many of the 134 Kansas post offices slated to be closed are located in rural communities that heavily rely on postal services.
The Postal Regulatory Commission has found that maintaining rural post offices only amounts to 0.7 percent of the Postal Service’s budget. Therefore, reducing service to rural communities and senior citizens will have little benefit to the USPS’ bottom line.
jasper007 (anonymous) says...
I live in a nice, local mobile home park (formerly called "trailer parks"), where the Post Office provides a "bank" of mailboxes in which the Postman puts the mail for individual addresses. There is also an "outgoing" mailbox for mailing your bills, etc., with another box the Postman delivers packages, providing a key slipped into your mailbox.
Some of the small, rural communities, such as Admire, Reading, Miller, etc. are looking at loosing there Postal Service.
Couldn't something like this be implemented in these small communities? I don't think ALL alternatives have been presented and maybe these small communities should have a stronger "voice" in these decisions....
October 21, 2011 at 11:24 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Isn't senator Moran a republican?
You know, the party of less government and less regulations?
I guess he is only republican when it's time for re-election.
The days of the pony express are long gone.
The days of the USPS are numbered. Let's just deal with that.
October 25, 2011 at 6:18 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
No other senator has helped Kansas veterans as much as Senator Moran has. He has brought VA clinics to western Kansas thus savng those vets a very long trip to Topeka. He has beefed up services in other areas as well, including here in Emporia. Less government or not, I wouldn't sell him too short.
October 25, 2011 at 8:48 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
create,
What about Bob Dole?
As long as our congress is sending our American children overseas to fight in undeclared wars they SHOULD take care of the vets.
But if Moran is worried about postal service, maybe he should give up his free franking privilege.
It's the sos. same old s---
Another government law or hand out to keep the voters happy.
I'm not selling him short. He's been there long enough to know how to keep his job.
The fact is, more people are using electronic mail, delivery service and small town post offices are a thing of the past.
And unless we are willing to completely fund it with federal tax dollars, we should allow the USPS to cut where they want to. (Including Saturday service)
UPS delivers in the country and to small towns.
October 25, 2011 at 2:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
http://www.unitedliberty.org/articles...
You will note that the figure is pretty close to 1/4 TRILLION dollars. Is it really worth it?
October 25, 2011 at 3:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
The current problem with the USPS is because Congress passed a law forcing them to pay back into it's underfunded retirement fund. While all retirement funds should be completely funded, you would think that congress requiring this by law is kind of like the pot calling the kettle black, don't you think?
The state of Kansas is facing the same problem with KPERS. Maybe we could get our boys back from Washington to help with the states problems?
October 26, 2011 at 7:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )