The News/Media Alliance filed comments to the Postal Regulatory Commission on May 10 regarding the Postal Service’s proposed July rate increases. The Postal Service is proposing to raise rates by 8.08 percent for Outside County Periodicals and 8.811 percent for Within County Periodicals. Rates alone will not solve the postal issues facing the Periodicals class; the Postal Service has not controlled or decreased Periodicals costs. In addition, the Postal Service is proposing a 10 percent discount for “Marriage Mail” Saturation Flats and Letters weighing 2 ounces or less. The Alliance addressed four issues relating to this proposal.
The mailing industry has been concerned that no oversight has occurred on the Postmaster General’s Delivering for America Plan and called on Congress for a hearing. The US House Subcommittee on Government Operations is holding a hearing May 17 – Tracking the Postal Service: An Update on the Delivering for America Plan. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy will be the sole witness. The Alliance has been meeting with members of Congress and will be submitting questions for the hearing.
Holly Lubart is Vice President, Government Affairs at the News/Media Alliance. Previously, she served as Vice President of Government Affairs for the PA NewsMedia Association and started her career as a journalist. Lubart has over 20 years of political and communications experience.
