CAPS

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=189 style="border-right: 1px solid #CCCCCC;" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B><IMG SRC="0cf9d260.gif" border=0 width="157" height="38" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" "><I><B><IMG SRC="0ce9d260.gif" border=0 width="157" height="38" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></I></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" "><B><IMG SRC="0d09d260.gif" border=0 width="157" height="38" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id22.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="IN THE NEWS"><B><IMG SRC="0cd9d260.gif" border=0 width="157" height="38" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id23.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" "><B><IMG SRC="0d29d260.gif" border=0 width="157" height="38" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id30.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="_"><B><IMG SRC="0d19d260.gif" border=0 width="157" height="38" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></A></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="id32.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" "><B>William Clay, Sr</B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id32.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" "><B>Chairman</B></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id31.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" RICK FARRELL"><B>Rick Farrell</B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id31.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" RICK FARRELL"><B>Executive Director</B></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id22.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="IN THE NEWS"><I><B>CAPS Legislative </B></I></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id22.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="IN THE NEWS"><I><B>Update</B></I></A></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B><U>CAPS Members:</U></B></I><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Berlin Sans FB" ><I><B><U> </U></B></I></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>AFL-CIO</B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Book Antiqua" ><B> </B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>Alliance for Retired Americans</B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Book Antiqua" ><B> </B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>American Diabetes Association</B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Book Antiqua" ><B> </B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>American Postal</B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Book Antiqua" ><B> </B></FONT></div> <div> <B>Workers Union</B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Book Antiqua" ><B> </B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>A. Philip Randolph</B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Book Antiqua" ><B> </B></FONT></div> <div> <B>Institute</B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Book Antiqua" ><B> </B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>Congressional Black </B></div> <div> <B>Caucus Foundation</B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Book Antiqua" ><B> </B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>Consumer Action</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>National Black Caucus </B></div> <div> <B>of State Legislators</B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Book Antiqua" ><B> </B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>National Committee</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Book Antiqua" ><B> </B></FONT></div> <div> <B>to Preserve Social</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Book Antiqua" ><B> </B></FONT></div> <div> <B>Security and Medicare</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Book Antiqua" ><B> </B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>National Farmers Union</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Book Antiqua" ><B> </B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>National Organization for Women (NOW)</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The Women's Research and Education Institute</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Book Antiqua" ><B> </B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>United States Hispanic Leadership Institute</B></div> <div> <A HREF="id23.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" "><B><IMG SRC="0d29d260.gif" border=0 width="157" height="38" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" width="100%" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div>   <IMG SRC="0764cfc0.jpg" border=0 width="332" height="252" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="07550fe0.jpg" border=0 width="336" height="254" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="09ba31f0.jpg" border=0 width="675" height="31" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="0cf9d260.gif" border=0 width="157" height="38" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">  </B></div> <div> The Consumer Alliance for Postal Services (CAPS) was founded in 2003 to protect affordable and dependable mail service for all Americans. In 2002, President Bush appointed a presidential commission to study and report on possible postal reforms that could redefine universal service. Universal service is defined as the same postal services at uniform prices for all citizens, and is the tenet on which the United States Postal Service was formed over 230 years ago. </div> <bR> <div> CAPS members include the Alliance for Retired Americans, American Diabetes Association, AFL-CIO, Americans for Democratic Action, American Postal Workers Union, A. Phillip Randolph Institute, Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, Communications Workers of America, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Consumer Action, Metropolitan Washington Council, National Black Caucus of State Legislators, National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, National Farmers Union, National Football Players Association, National Organization for Women, United Food & Commercial Workers, United States Hispanic Leadership Institute, Women's Research & Education Institute and others.  William Clay, former chairman of the House Post Office and Civil Service Committee, is chairman of CAPS.  </div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I>CAPS Statement of Principles and Purpose</I><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000080" FACE="Book Antiqua" ><I><B> <a href="HTMLobj-254/Statement.pdf"><u>Statement.pdf</u> </a>  </B></I></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <I>Frequently Asked Questions about CAPS </I><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000066" FACE="Book Antiqua" ><I><B> <a href="HTMLobj-293/FAQs.pdf"><u>FAQs.pdf</u> </a>  </B></I></FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>RECENT NEWS</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Anti-Labor Provisions </B></div> <div> Threaten Postal ‘Reform’</div> <div> (07/19/06) APWU President William Burrus said passage of postal reform legislation in this session of Congress appears more uncertain than ever, largely as a result of the Bush administration’s renewed insistence that anti-labor provisions be included. At a meeting last week, the administration demanded that the provisions allowing unions to defer unresolved collective bargaining issues to binding arbitration be modified to require arbitrators to consider the economic health of the Postal Service in their final decision. </div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.apwu.org /postalreform/index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.apwu.org /postalreform/index."><U>read more</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <B>Postal Reform Measure </B></div> <div> Awaits Conference Action</div> <div> (07/01/06) Further action on the postal reform bills already approved by the House and Senate appears to be stalled while congressional leaders and the White House consider additional changes to the legislation. <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.apwu.org/postalreform/index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.apwu.org/postalreform/index.h"><U>[read more] </U></A></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>Burrus: </B></div> <div> <B>Victory Elusive in Postal ‘Reform’</B></div> <div> (06/28/06) With key leaders of the House and Senate saying they hope for final passage of a postal “reform” measure before Congress’ July 4th recess, APWU President William Burrus said that the APWU position remains unchanged: “The current legislation will not benefit the USPS or postal employees. [It] will not achieve the stated objectives and will be more harmful than continuing operations under current law.” <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.apwu.org/postalreform/index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.apwu.org/postalreform/index.h"><U>[read more] </U></A></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>Burrus: </B></div> <div> <B>A Stunning Reversal </B></div> <div> <B>Of USPS Dire Predictions</B></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >(04/05/06) Postmaster General Potter’s announcement to the National Postal Forum on April 3 that “the forecast for the Postal Service and the mailing industry is very good,” represents a stunning reversal of USPS views over the last three years, APWU President William Burrus said in a recent message to local and state union leaders. </FONT><A HREF="http://www.apwu.org/postalreform/index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.apwu.org/postalreform/index.h"><U>[</U></A><A HREF="http://www.apwu.org/postalreform/index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.apwu.org/postalreform/index.h"><U>read more] </U></A></div> <bR> <div> <B>Union Asks Legislators to Support</B></div> <div> <B>Public Input on USPS Consolidation</B></div> <div> (03/27/06) The APWU has asked key legislators to support language in the Senate version of postal reform legislation that would require the Postal Service to consider community input when contemplating consolidation of postal operations. The language, offered by Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), was adopted by the Senate when it approved the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act on Feb. 9, 2006. </div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.apwu.org/postalreform/index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.apwu.org/postalreform/index.h"><U>[read more</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <B>Employee Organizations </B></div> <div> <B>Issue Joint Letter on Postal Reform </B></div> <div> (March 23, 2006) The leaders of organizations representing more than 700,000 USPS employees have sent a joint letter to Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), outlining areas of agreement in matters that will be considered by a conference committee which will reconcile differences between House and Senate postal reform measures. Collins chairs the Senate’s Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and will serve on the conference committee<A HREF="http://www.apwu.org/postalreform/index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.apwu.org/postalreform/index.h">. </A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.apwu.org/postalreform/index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.apwu.org/postalreform/index.h"><U>[read more] </U></A></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>CRS Report on Postal Reform</B></div> <div> (Feb. 21, 2006) An analysis of postal reform efforts, prepared by the Congressional Research Service, provides a history of recent legislative efforts and an assessment of the views of various groups involved in the debate. [<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>CRS Issue Brief #IB10104, Feb. 21, 2006 - PDF</U></FONT>]</div> <bR> <div> <B>Bush Budget Proposal </B></div> <div> <B>Addresses Postal Reform</B></div> <div> (Feb. 10, 2006) President Bush’s budget, sent to Congress on Feb. 6, reiterated the White House position on postal “reform,” as well as other issues important to federal employees and working families. The $2.77 trillion budget proposal for fiscal year 2007 says the administration “supports enactment of comprehensive postal reform legislation that is fair to taxpayers, ratepayers, and Postal Service employees,” and <I>“does not have an adverse impact on the federal budget.” </I>[emphasis added]<A HREF="http://www.apwu.org/postalreform/index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.apwu.org/postalreform/index.h"> </A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.apwu.org/postalreform/index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.apwu.org/postalreform/index.h"><U>[read more] </U></A></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>Senate Approves Postal Reform Bill </B></div> <div> <B>Conference Committee Will Decide Key Provisions </B></div> <div> (Feb. 9, 2006) The Senate approved a postal reform bill by “unanimous consent” Feb. 9, taking reorganization of the USPS one step closer to reality. Before the legislation can be sent to President Bush, however, a conference committee must be formed to resolve differences between the Senate bill and a similar measure approved by the House of Representatives last summer. The President opposes two key provisions of both bills and has threatened to veto the legislation. <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.apwu.org/postalreform/index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.apwu.org/postalreform/index.h"><U>[read more] </U></A></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>Positions Change as Legislation Evolves</B></div> <div> (Jan. 25, 2006) As postal reform proponents have become less than enamored with legislation pending on Capitol Hill, the Postal Service has announced its official opposition to a Senate bill that could be voted on in the next several days.<A HREF="http://www.apwu.org/postalreform/index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.apwu.org/postalreform/index.h"> </A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.apwu.org/postalreform/index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.apwu.org/postalreform/index.h"><U>[read more]</U></A></FONT><A HREF="http://www.apwu.org/postalreform/index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.apwu.org/postalreform/index.h"> </A></div> <div> <B>(Updated 02/06/06)</B> Former Deputy PMG and Mailing Industry Executive <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>John Nolan</B></FONT> has called for a 30- to 60-day “time out” to analyze the bills and work to resolve differences. </div> <bR> <div> <B>Postal Workers' Pay Did Not</B></div> <div> <B>Cause Stamp Rate Increase</B></div> <div> (Jan. 10, 2006) In a Jan. 6 op-ed, Sam Ryan of the Lexington Institute, a conservative “think tank,” claimed the Postal Service should cut postal workers’ pay and benefits instead of increasing postage rates, and “outsource” more of its operations to corporate mailers.</div> <div> Ryan is entitled to his views, but his byline should have disclosed the he runs a PR firm, Keybridge Communications, that ghostwrites and places op-ed pieces for right-wing, anti-labor organizations.</div> <div> The web of myths and half-truths Ryan spins in the name of postal “reform” keep popping up in his columns in local newspapers across the country, but despite efforts by our union, the U.S. Postal Service, and others to correct the record, he ignores the facts and moves on. We don’t always respond, but this time we cannot let Mr. Ryan off the hook</div> <div> Ryan’s most flagrant distortions include the following: </div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.apwu.org/postalreform/index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.apwu.org/postalreform/index.h"><U>[read more] </U></A></div> <bR> <div> <B>Even the USPS Doesn’t </B></div> <div> <B>Blame This One on Us</B></div> <div> (Jan. 10, 2006) Effective Jan. 8, 2006, postage rates were increased 5.4 percent, changing the first-class rate from 37 cents to 39 cents for a single, one-ounce letter. This means it will now cost the average American citizen 2 cents more to pay their gas bills, send birthday cards, and make mortgage payments. Unlike previous rate increases, this price hike is <I>not</I> related to increases in USPS operational costs: It is <I>not</I> the result of increased energy costs for the largest vehicle fleet in the country, or increased costs for health benefits, or improved employee wages. <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.apwu.org/postalreform/index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.apwu.org/postalreform/index.h"><U>[read more</U></A></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>July 21, 2004 - </B><B> <a href="HTMLobj-338/Legislative_Update.pdf"><u>Legislative_Update.pdf</u> </a>  </B></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#111111" FACE="Book Antiqua" ><B>May 28, 2004 - </B></FONT><B> </B><B>Consumer Action Letter to Senator</B><B> </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#BF0000" FACE="Book Antiqua" ><B> <a href="HTMLobj-335/Lieberman.pdf"><u>Lieberman.pdf</u> </a>  </B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#111111" FACE="Book Antiqua" ><B>Mar 23, 2004</B></FONT><I><B> </B></I><I>-  <a href="HTMLobj-316/Clay_Joint_Hearings_3-23-04.pdf"><u>Clay_Joint_Hearings_3-23-04.pdf</u> </a>  </I></div> <bR> <div> <B>Dec 10, 2003 -  <a href="HTMLobj-306/Herald_Article_12-10-03.pdf"><u>Herald_Article_12-10-03.pdf</u> </a>  </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Nov 14, 2003 </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><I>- </I></FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000080" FACE="Arial" > <a href="HTMLobj-302/National_Farmers_Union.pdf"><u>National_Farmers_Union.pdf</u> </a>  </FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>Nov 13, 2003</B> - Letter to Senator Collins <a href="HTMLobj-299/Consumer_Action.pdf"><u>Consumer_Action.pdf</u> </a>  </div> <bR> <div> <B>Nov 5, 2003 -</B> In the USPS we Trust  <a href="HTMLobj-298/Federal_Computer_Week_11-5-03.pdf"><u>Federal_Computer_Week_11-5-03.pdf</u> </a>  </div> <bR> <div> <B>Oct 26, 2003</B> -  Small Town Post Offices Can Bring Home the World</div> <div>  <a href="HTMLobj-294/Waco_Tribune_Herald_10-26-03.pdf"><u>Waco_Tribune_Herald_10-26-03.pdf</u> </a>  </div> <bR> <div> <B>August 2003 -  </B>Previewed during the month of August in the Waco, TX Area <B> <a href="HTMLobj-282/Waco_TV_Ad_Final_512k.wmv"><u>Waco TV Ad</u> </a>  </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>May 28, 2003</B> - CAPS Chairman William Clay testified in front of the Presidential Commission on the United States Postal Service   </div> <div>  <a href="HTMLobj-252/Testimony.pdf"><u>Testimony.pdf</u> </a>  </div> <bR> <div> <B>April 16, 2003 </B>- The Pew Internet and American Life Project released a study that reports on how many Americans have access to the Internet and how many are using it.  Based on the findings of this study, CAPS disputes the notion that the Internet has or will replace mail service as Americans' preferred method for correspondence and financial transactions. </div> <div> <B> <a href="HTMLobj-253/Pew_Report.pdf"><u>Pew_Report.pdf</u> </a>  </B></div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#262626" FACE="Book Antiqua" ><B>Copyright © 2003-07 Consumer Alliance For Postal Services. All rights reserved.</B></FONT><B>  </B><B>  </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Book Antiqua" ><B>  </B></FONT></div> <div> <B>       </B></div> <div> <B> <font size="2"><SCRIPT> document.write(Date()+".") </SCRIPT></font>  </B><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>  </B></FONT><B>    </B></div> </td> </tr></table></body>