Tom Carper

It is not enough for the Postal Service or for the Congress just to say cut, cut, cut. We have to find ways to grow some revenues, think outside the box.

I hope it is not too late when this happens. I do not think it will be.

All of the changes that are being contemplated by the Postal Service with regard to its facilities, with regard to its delivery speed, with regard to Saturday delivery and other issues are coming as a result, as we know, of serious…

The authority the Commission has to prevent closings is somewhat limited.

The Postal Service is continuing their Universal Service Obligation.

Yes, I think that we did take too long. And when that issue first came before us, I expressed my opinion as to what I thought the timetable should be. My view did not predominate at that time. So yes, it was unacceptable.

These are challenging times for the Postal Service. Absent congressional action this year, that future will be dire.

Hopefully, he will have, if confirmed, a lot to do this year and some more to do after November.

Senator Snowe and I have offered legislation that provides for an investment tax credit, a 30-percent investment tax credit.

What a number of us--Senator McCain and I, and others, including people sitting here to my right--have authored and co-sponsored...

It is not a heck of a lot of money because it goes away.

I think that is--I have thought this for 18 months--what we ought to do.

We are doing really exceptionally well by any measure.

These are a couple of our ideas we wanted to share with you. They are not just Democratic ideas, not just Republican ideas, just smart ideas.

We must use every tool available to put our fiscal house back in order and to give the American people the government they expect and that they deserve.

What we are hearing anecdotally is the deficit number continues to drop, down from 1.5 to 1.3.

Another way is to maximize the income that we are trying to bring into the treasury by making sure that folks are paying their fair share.

One of the things that the Chairman, Dr. Coburn, and I are very much focused on is deficit reduction.

Let me see if I understand this. We have these mutual funds that are, if you will, investing in commodities.

A second but related line of questions is: Can mutual funds only gain access to commodities through these controlled foreign corporations or commodity-linked notes?

Could I just ask if that is the case, then why not?

In my old job as governor of Delaware, from time to time we would suggest to the legislature what tax law changes we thought should be made to provide clarity in areas like this.

The best thing that could happen with this debate is if the outcome desired is the outcome that this Subcommittee has been discussing.

Where is the Commission on the licensing process of potentially new reactors and the relicensing process of current reactors, please?

Good. Thanks very much for that clarification.