To the editor:

On March 28, a letter from Mid-America District Manager Gail Hendrix was published in response to local Letter Carrier President Andy Tuttle. Her letter said nothing to refute Andy’s, only mimicking the headquarters line.

Unstated in both is that a primary cause for the U.S. Postal Service’s financial problems is the 2006 Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act. This legislation imposes a $5 billion yearly tax. The reason given for this onerous tax is to pre-fund future retiree health benefits for the next 75 years. This is notably unnecessary because 1) since 2006, we have dropped 174,000 career employees, 2) in 2010, Congress passed the Health Care Affordability Act, and 3) no other business has this requirement.

Postmaster General Pat Donahoe announced, “The Postal Service expects to generate cost savings of approximately $2 billion annually once the plan is fully implemented.” This leaves a $3 billion annual shortfall. Therefore, elimination of Saturday delivery will not solve our problem.

What will solve the problem? Repeal the requirements of the 2006 PAEA and return the funds already paid by the USPS. This can only be done through Congress. Public support is needed for proposed legislation. Legislators need to hear that American citizens deserve and require universal service, six days a week at current rates. You could even let them know by sending a letter.