Legislation Would Allow USPS To Renegotiate Health Plans

Last week, a bipartisan group of senators introduced a bill (S 1789) that would allow the U.S. Postal Service to renegotiate health care benefits with its employees. The bill would eliminate a 10-year payment schedule for an annual $5.5 billion payment for future retiree medical costs. Instead, the payments would be spread over 40 years, significantly reducing annual financial obligations. House Republicans oppose the bill and regard any refunding of USPS with money from federal retirement or health care accounts as a taxpayer-funded bailout.

• "Senators Unveil Bipartisan Postal Service Rescue Plan" (O'Keefe, Washington Post, 11/2).