USPS Privatization Bill

[Democratic Hawk]

USPS Privatization Bill

1. The United States Postal Service is to be privatized through an auction.
2. The President is authorized to make any necessary rules and regulations relating to the privatization process.
3. The privatization of the USPS must be completed before the year 2007.
4. Upon the successful privatization of the USPS, all legal restrictions on the competitive delivery of mail are repealed.

Sponsor: Sen. Dave Hawk

[True Democrat]

Although I believe some form of privitization should take place, wouldn't it be more beneficial to leave USPS public, but auction off the services regionally to companies?

[Democratic Hawk]

This is another Bill I introduced, on behalf of the President, in the Fourteenth Senate , which I, subsequently, reintroduced

However, due to the passing of the Cabinet Restructuring Act, I have had to alter Section 2 to read:

2. The President is authorized to make any necessary rules and regulations relating to the privatization process

It had previously read the Secretary of the Treasury but that post is no more and its duties and responsibilities are now vested in the President

'Hawk'

[MasterJedi]

Yep, this is another horrible bill that I will be voting against.

[Dr. Cynic]

I don't think privatizing the Postal Service is at all a prudent or intelligent idea.

[Bdub]

I will be voting against this.  I doubt it would be a great idea to privatize.

[Democratic Hawk]

Out of interest, any one know of any country, where its postal services are privatized and, if so, whether private ownership is more efficient and effective than public ownership? I'd like to know

As things stand, my primary concern, about privatization of the USPS, would be for the more rural and isolated communities of Atlasia, and as to whether private ownership, would effectively serve such communities, given less likelihood of favorable profit margins or, indeed, a loss

The only way I could ever remotely support this Bill is if postal services in such communities were safeguarded, at no less than current levels, in the rules and regulations. I'd also want safeguards against any exhorbitant hike in postal costs onto postal service users

In other words, if we are to privatize the USPS, then I see much need for postal services to be regulated

'Hawk'

[Dr. Cynic]

I can't think of any country with a privitized postal service... It would be totally inefficent.

Well folks, let's just sit back and wait 72 hours, vote nay, and continue with our business.

[Speed of Sound]

If the word "Privatization" is in the title, you can bet im voting against it, especially when its the Postal Service.

[Bono]

Once again, I'll have to state, a la jfern, "the facts" regarding the USPS:

A 2003 report by the President's Comission on the U.S. Postal Service and other studies have concluded that the future of the USPS is bleak, because of decreasing mail volumes and rising costs. What is proposed here, and which I believe to be the best course of action, is to privatize the USPS and to end the monopoly on first class mail it enjoys. New Zealand and Germany have enacted reforms on this field that the senate should know about.
Since 1998, New Zealand's postal market has been open to private competitions, with the result that the postage rates have fallen and labour productivity at the New Zealand post has increased dramatically. Germany's Deutsche Post was privatized in 2000, with the company currently expading and looking into new lines of business.

[Democratic Hawk]

Once again, I'll have to state, a la jfern, "the facts" regarding the USPS:

A 2003 report by the President's Comission on the U.S. Postal Service and other studies have concluded that the future of the USPS is bleak, because of decreasing mail volumes and rising costs. What is proposed here, and which I believe to be the best course of action, is to privatize the USPS and to end the monopoly on first class mail it enjoys. New Zealand and Germany have enacted reforms on this field that the senate should know about.
Since 1998, New Zealand's postal market has been open to private competitions, with the result that the postage rates have fallen and labour productivity at the New Zealand post has increased dramatically. Germany's Deutsche Post was privatized in 2000, with the company currently expading and looking into new lines of business.

Have such changes in Germany and New Zealand had a detrimental impact on the provision of postal services in rural and isolated communities that you are aware of? This is my primary concern should the USPS be privatized

I certainly don't welcome a situation whereby such communities might lose out on such services

Dave

[Democratic Hawk]

I hereby open the final vote on this Bill. Please vote Aye, Nay or Abstain

'Hawk'

[MasterJedi]

Nay

[Speed of Sound]

Nay

[jerusalemcar5]

Nay.

[Dr. Cynic]

Nay

[Јas]

Abstain.
I'm not necessarily opposed to the idea of privitising the postal service, however the manner outlined is not one which I could offer my support to - specifically a single auction selling the USPS en masse.
I am interested in section 4 of the bill, and would enquire of any knowledgable parties what restrictions exist regarding competition in this market, as I could quite conceiveably introduce a bill to try and open up the market in this way.

[Bdub]

Nay

[Democratic Hawk]

Due to the concerns I have raised I have no alternative but to vote Nay on this Bill. Were I to have favored the privatization of the USPS, the Bill would have included pretty austere regulations designed to ensure that my concerns regarding postal services in rural and isolated communities being reduced or even axed altogether that it may have proved a disincentive for any willing purchasers

Postal services are vital to every Atlasian and I'm of the conviction that, for now, the federal government is the best means to ensuring that postal services are accessible to each and every one of them

'Hawk'

[Democratic Hawk]

This Bill has enough votes to fail. Senators now have 24 hours to change their votes

'Hawk'

[Democratic Hawk]

With 0 Ayes, 6 Nays and 1 Abstention, this Bill has failed

'Hawk'

[WMS]

Once again for the record, Nay.