Kirk, Durbin: Plan Needed To Keep Postal Service Going
CHICAGO (CBS) -- U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) says he expects Congress to do what is necessary to keep the mail coming, through sleet and snow.
As WBBM Newsradio Political Editor Craig Dellimore reports, Kirk acknowledged that the U.S. Postal Service is facing some tough financial times, but he is not fearing the worst, despite some predictions that the entire service might have to shut down for a time.
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"I don't think the Congress will let the U.S. Postal Service close for the winter, or close at all, but I think that once again, we're going to have to find an offset, and a business plan, for the Postal Service to survive," he said.
Speaking at the Union League Club, Kirk said the "offset" to which he referred means that Congress should trim some waste from the budget to make up for any aid that might be given to shore up the Postal Service.
As WBBM Newsradio's Steve Miller reports, Sen. Dick Durbin says the postal service needs some "serious reforms."
Durbin says postal delivery six days a week usually passes through the Congress every year without comment.
This year, he says, there will likely be a debate.
Cutting back on delivery is just one thing that will be on the table, Durbin says.
"The system now is broke and it's running out of money, he said. "And we have got to make some serious reforms of the postal system to make sure that they're competitive for years to come."
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Durbin says expect changes in the number of post offices - meaning more will be closed.
He says he knows post offices are the life blood of some areas - but if they can't sustain themselves, Durbin says, "We can no longer justify them."
