McCaskill Plan Moves Closer to Saving Rural Post Offices
By: Alex Hassel
Updated: April 27, 2012
(WASHINGTON) There's still hope for rural post offices in Missouri.
The U.S. Senate gave broad bipartisan approval Wednesday to a plan by Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) that will protect rural towns from losing their post offices.
McCaskill's amendment would prevent the USPS from closing rural post offices over the next 12 months.
After that, the USPS could only close a rural post office if strict criteria are met.
For example, seniors who rely on the post office for prescription drugs would need the same or similar service.
"It is very important to these small communities that they have this presence, and that's why I fought for this because it shouldn't just be about government services for people in the cities, there should be equal access to government services in rural areas of our state," McCaskill says.
Next, the bill will go to the House of Representatives.
McCaskill fears Republicans in the house will reject the bill.
The U.S. Senate gave broad bipartisan approval Wednesday to a plan by Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) that will protect rural towns from losing their post offices.
McCaskill's amendment would prevent the USPS from closing rural post offices over the next 12 months.
After that, the USPS could only close a rural post office if strict criteria are met.
For example, seniors who rely on the post office for prescription drugs would need the same or similar service.
"It is very important to these small communities that they have this presence, and that's why I fought for this because it shouldn't just be about government services for people in the cities, there should be equal access to government services in rural areas of our state," McCaskill says.
Next, the bill will go to the House of Representatives.
McCaskill fears Republicans in the house will reject the bill.
