I do not see that as being unreasonable that Postal employees should--the 23 percent who are not currently taking advantage of Medicare, that they should not be encouraged to take advantage of Medicare, Part B.

I think the Postal Service is clearly a viable, ongoing entity.

What we have done in our legislation--the $40 billion that has been prepaid to meet this retiree health benefit?

My goal with this bill, and I believe Dr. Coburn's goal as well, is to enact a set of reforms that are fair to really three groups of people.

The Chairman and I are committed to getting this done.

one of my top goals has been to not just help the Postal Service get by, but to help it be strong once again

The Postal Service is unique in this country. Nobody else goes to every mailbox, virtually every door, business and residential, in this country 5 or 6 days a week.

I want to thank Senator Johnson, who is faithful.

We can always do everything better.

Our bill attempts to permanently address the Postal Service's longstanding health and pension issues and right-size its processing and delivery network.

We recognize that we want to take that in and then we want to work some more.

I think in a very smart, thoughtful way that can grow revenues by a half-billion dollars or more a year.

I am willing to pay some more taxes. I just do not want you to waste the money.

we find ourselves closer than we have ever been to losing the vital services that the Postal Service offers to all of us.

I am willing to make tough choices to make him successful and us successful in accomplishing that.

Encouraging an approach to financial problems that would facilitate potentially large rate increases and service cuts, cuts needlessly and undermines the beneficial features of the bill.

At risk as well are the approximately 8 million jobs that depend on its continued vitality.

I would welcome the thoughts of General Donahoe on this.