I'm skimming over a conference report from the Senate Financial Services and General Government appropriations committee (really a fun way to spend your Wednesday afternoon!), and I came across this passage on the Postal Service:
Because some experts, including OPM, have expressed concerns about the assumptions made in the Postal Service IG report, the Committee directs the Postal Service, in coordination with OPM and OMB, to develop a fiscally responsible legislative proposal to grant a limited measure of relief from the PAEA requirements to pre-fund retiree health benefits.
If I'm reading this right, the Senate is not going to move forward on companion legislation to H.R. 22 until the Postal Service, OMB and OPM create a "legislative proposal." Nevermind that there is already a legislative proposal, H.R. 22, which passed the House Oversight and Government Reform committee unanimously last week. The Senate wants a new one.
That puts the Postal Service on a rather tight timetable, especially with Congress taking off most of August for vacation. If this bill isn't passed by September 30 - when the Postal Service's health care payment is due, a payment it cannot afford - then it becomes a moot point.
Posted by Gregg Arlstrom (gcarlstrom@atpco.com)
