Printing Industries of America's members from across the country are gathering on Capitol Hill next month to oppose an emergency postal rate hike proposal that would dramatically bust caps on postal rate increases imposed by Congress in 2006.
The USPS is petitioning to raise rates higher than allowed by current law, claiming that the recession and continued move from mail to electronic communications mean the agency needs to charge higher rates to stay afloat. Printers are rejecting this proposal and will go directly to Congress to urge decision makers to follow.
The grassroots effort is part of Printing Industries of America's Print's Voice 2010 Conference taking place September 14-15 in Washington, DC. This legislative conference, free for members of Printing Industries of America, will focus on the 2010 elections and key legislative issues in the areas of environmental, labor, and tax policy. A special session on postal policy will feature a keynote from USPS executives, lawmakers overseeing postal reform policy in Congress, and a presentation of new industry data related to mailing and postal policy. Conference attendees will then take to Capitol Hill for lobbying visits with their senators and representatives.
"With the decision to raise postal rates looming, it's more important than ever that printers stay educated on the politics that affect their business," said Lisbeth Lyons, vice president of Government Affairs at Printing Industries of America. "Print's Voice 2010 will equip printers with the resources necessary to have their voice heard in our government. Additionally, face-to-face meetings with Congress is a valuable step to increase the visibility of the printing and graphics communications industry among lawmakers and to urging policy positions that positively affect the printing industry."
The conference is divided into three different segments:
The Politics
"Equal time" political preview and predictions by Democrat and Republican senators/representatives and political parties.
The Issues
Senators/representatives will provide an overview of hot-button election issues and predictions for how election results will impact future debate. Issues include: Estate tax, card check, health care reform, and Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act.
The Industry
The "Printers Vote" boot camp conducted by Lisbeth Lyons and her team will educate participants about three models of civic education and Get-Out-The-Vote programs.
For more information, visit www.printing.org/printsvoice. To register, contact Printing Industries of America at 202-730-7970 or govtaffairs@printing.org.
The USPS is petitioning to raise rates higher than allowed by current law, claiming that the recession and continued move from mail to electronic communications mean the agency needs to charge higher rates to stay afloat. Printers are rejecting this proposal and will go directly to Congress to urge decision makers to follow.
The grassroots effort is part of Printing Industries of America's Print's Voice 2010 Conference taking place September 14-15 in Washington, DC. This legislative conference, free for members of Printing Industries of America, will focus on the 2010 elections and key legislative issues in the areas of environmental, labor, and tax policy. A special session on postal policy will feature a keynote from USPS executives, lawmakers overseeing postal reform policy in Congress, and a presentation of new industry data related to mailing and postal policy. Conference attendees will then take to Capitol Hill for lobbying visits with their senators and representatives.
"With the decision to raise postal rates looming, it's more important than ever that printers stay educated on the politics that affect their business," said Lisbeth Lyons, vice president of Government Affairs at Printing Industries of America. "Print's Voice 2010 will equip printers with the resources necessary to have their voice heard in our government. Additionally, face-to-face meetings with Congress is a valuable step to increase the visibility of the printing and graphics communications industry among lawmakers and to urging policy positions that positively affect the printing industry."
The conference is divided into three different segments:
The Politics
"Equal time" political preview and predictions by Democrat and Republican senators/representatives and political parties.
The Issues
Senators/representatives will provide an overview of hot-button election issues and predictions for how election results will impact future debate. Issues include: Estate tax, card check, health care reform, and Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act.
The Industry
The "Printers Vote" boot camp conducted by Lisbeth Lyons and her team will educate participants about three models of civic education and Get-Out-The-Vote programs.
For more information, visit www.printing.org/printsvoice. To register, contact Printing Industries of America at 202-730-7970 or govtaffairs@printing.org.
