I am a big buyer of cards. When I go in a place, I buy them.

I am committed with you to try to move this process forward.

This differential is in the difference of what the post office could buy the exact same coverage with a wrap-around... there is no question we add to the liability of the Medicare program.

So there is no subsidy now that is achieved for that that is transferred to other mailers because we are doing this.

the Post Office has to continue to be able to trim its costs in a way that is both ethical and proper; it has to figure out how to achieve greater revenues; and, finally, the third option--which is not an option--is to have the taxpayers…

I am actually trying to get to your industry and what the revenue is the Postal Service gets off of your industry versus what it costs to deliver your mail.

What Senator Carper and I are trying to do is to create the environment where all those factors are taken into consideration.

I predicted it. When we passed the last Postal bill, I said we would be back here because we are not setting up a competitive market force.

All right. Thank you very much.

What we have to do is, as Senator Carper said, how are we going to look at all these pieces and try to come up with something that gives us long-term viability of the Postal Service, and that is the real issue.

Do you think that actually makes a difference when I am buying a $5.99 or $4.99 card?

By statute, you cannot sell that product below your cost.

Do you know of any business in the world that could be successful in negotiating their labor contracts when they, in fact, cannot consider their financial health when they negotiate their labor contracts?

Your injured workers have tripled, with third-party billing and medication.

We vehemently oppose any changes that would interfere with the right of the postal employees and retirees to continue to participate in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.

I just had one more, and I wanted to hear your response to one of the comments Dr. Baker made about getting a better return on the funds that we have today.

So under this bill that we have which gives pricing authority to the Post Office, can you imagine a scenario where they would not consider total revenue volume associated with price increases, and look for that sweet spot?

It is not just the Postal Service that is wrestling with health care costs, right?

And since, as you said, the monopoly power is a hindrance now rather than an advantage, can you think of any reason why we should not have, in a bill, the ability for pricing power based on markets, competitive markets, and their…

If you include employee health benefits, the benefit package for the average employee of the Postal Service, excluding management, is $35,000 a year.

Well, but what they are--I guess the point I am trying to make is, right now, the cost to have your business is a half-a-billion dollar loss.

I thank all of you for your testimony.

We have to give them the capability to handle those costs in a more efficient way.

They are penalizing the workers, men and women, of the United States Postal Service by threatening their jobs and undermining their benefits.

We have to make it viable. We have to make the numbers work.