Jon Tester

I am sure there probably will be some proposals to do exactly that.

It would potentially reduce competition in that marketplace.

TRIA is absolutely essential to that.

No ifs, ands, or buts about that, Postmaster General. I just want to know what we are doing, OK?

So what you are saying is through September 2014, next year, there are already things in motion that are going to close down processing centers and post offices.

I just want to clarify something else that came up in last week's hearing and just correct me if I am wrong.

Not that we ever make mistakes, so, yes, because I think the last three arbitrations there was a lot of financial----

And that plan goes through the end of September of next year, a year from now.

There is a $49 billion additional liability to Medicare if the changes are made to FEHBP.

If the goal here is to privatize the Postal Service, then we ought to have a bill to do exactly that and move forward.

If I am swimming upstream here and the goal here is to maximize profitability at the expense of rural America, just tell me.

I can tell you that almost with every stop, I did not hear about delays of 1 day. I have heard mail delivery takes 3, 4, or 5 days.

I think it was a mistake, but the call had to be made one way or the other.

I agree you guys need better price flexibility. There are no ifs, ands or buts about that.

The Postal Service was set up to serve people, I think.

Did the studies indicate that if you made those changes, because you did it proactively... that it would have minimal impact on service in rural America?

Did those studies indicate that those reductions to services would not impact rural America?

I would question whether you could have overnight delivery to my house in Montana on a weekday, but much less on a Saturday or Sunday.

I appreciate your cooperation with Montana on the flood and fire seasons that we have had the last few years.

The Flood Insurance Program was actuarially sound. It was in the hole. It continues to be in the hole.

We can make excuses up. We can talk about how we are too busy to do this.

If we let this opportunity escape us by not working together and pushing it forward...

I was sent to Washington, D.C., to try to fix what is wrong with Washington, D.C.

There is $650 million in that fund. Realistically, just realistically, how many dollars should be in that fund?

I just want to thank you all for your testimony.