Stamps to Stay at 44 Cents

Papers around the country are reporting that the Postal Reglatory Commission, the five-member panel that oversees the U.S. Postal Service, has unanimously denied the agency's request to raise the price of stamps to 46 cents.

"The Postal Service proposed the two cents rate hike for first class postage in July as part of a cost-savings plan to deal with losses that amounted to $3.8 billion last year. Postal officials say part of the problem is the move of many customers to digital communications. But they say the losses have been compounded by the recession, " writes Tom Diemer of Politics Daily.

He goes on to pen, "The Postal Service can appeal the decision, file a new special rate increase request, or go for a smaller boost -- like one cent -- in the cost of mailing a letter, the Associated Press said. Among the cost-cutting measures, the Postal Service wants to end Saturday mail delivery, although most post offices would remain open on Saturdays under such a plan."

 In a news conference the Postal Regulatory Commission said the Postal Service had failed to justify the requested 5.6 percent increase. Ruth Goldway, chairwoman of the commission, said the increase had more to do with long-term structural problems at the Postal Service than with the recession.

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