| 00:00:02 |
HOST, -
HOST: WE'RE BACK WITH CLIFF GUFFEY, THE PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN POSTAL WORKERS UNION, HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE POST OFFICE. LET'S BEGIN...
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| 00:00:16 |
GUEST, -
GUEST: WE REPRESENT APPROXIMATELY TWO AND A 20,000. -- 220,000. WE REPRESENT THE CLERKS THAT WORD FOR WINDOWS, THAT SORT THE MAIL, THE DRIVERS, THE MECHANICS,...
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| 00:00:36 |
HOST, -
DEBATE ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE POSTAL SERVICE. CONGRESSMAN DARRELL ISSA HAS LEGISLATION TO REFORM IT. SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN HAS INTRODUCED A COMPANION...
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| 00:01:00 |
GUEST, -
TO NEGOTIATIONS AND MADE A LOT OF COMPROMISES. REPRESENTATIVE LYNCH HAS A BILL IN CONGRESS WHICH HAS 220 CODE- SPONSORS, -- CO-SPONSORS, WHICH WILL REFORM...
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| 00:01:42 |
HOST, -
THE CONCESSIONS SO FAR?
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| 00:01:45 |
GUEST, -
GUEST: WEEK RELAXED RULES ON FLEXIBILITY SO THE POSTAL SERVICE -- THE POST OFFICE COULD BE OPEN LONGER. THERE WOULD BE NO LEGACY COSTS. WE RECOGNIZE IT...
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| 00:02:47 |
HOST, -
HOW THE PENSION SYSTEM WORKS? GUEST: THERE ARE THREE
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| 00:02:52 |
GUEST, -
AREAS OF CONCERN HERE ABOUT PENSIONS. THE POSTAL SERVICE PENSION PLAN, WHICH IS PAID THROUGH BY POSTAGE REVENUE HAS PLACED 285 BILLION DOLLARS INTO THE...
|
| 00:05:03 |
HOST, -
WE NEED A NON- PROFIT ORGANIZATION TO DELIVER MAIL IN THIS COUNTRY WHERE WE HAVE FEDEX AND OTHER PRIVATE CARRIERS THAT DO THE JOB FOR PROFIT? GUEST:...
|
| 00:05:17 |
GUEST, -
NOT GO TO EVERY DOOR IN THE UNITED STATES. WE GO TO 100% SIX DAYS A WEEK. WE DELIVER 25% OF THEIR MAIL. IN OTHER WORDS, THEY DO NOT TAKE THE TRUCKS TO...
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| 00:05:55 |
GUEST, -
BE WILLING TO BE IN A PENSION PLAN THAT ESSENTIALLY WE PAY LATER IF WE STAY IN BUSINESS? MORE IMPORTANTLY, HE IS RIGHT. THIS IS THE ONLY AGENCY TO DO...
|
| 00:06:41 |
HOST, -
TO MANY POSTAL WORKERS? GUEST: I THINK ANYBODY
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| 00:06:46 |
GUEST, -
THAT GOES TO A WINDOW AND STANDS IN LINE KNOWS THERE ARE NOT TOO MANY. THERE HAS SO MUCH DRAIN ON POSTAL REVENUES TO SUBSIDIZE OTHER PARTS OF THE FEDERAL...
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| 00:07:43 |
HOST, -
THE PRESIDENT OF THE POSTAL WORKERS UNION, CLIFF GUFFEY, AND THE FUTURE OF THE POSTAL SERVICE IS OUR TOPIC. WE HAVE A FOURTH LINE SET ASIDE FOR CURRENT...
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| 00:08:40 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
TO FINANCIALLY RESTORE THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE BESIDES CUTTING BACK EMPLOYMENT AND BENEFITS? GUEST: WE THINK IT
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| 00:08:48 |
GUEST, -
IS SIMPLE. THERE WILL BE A SLOW, GRADUAL CHANGE IN THE POST OFFICE THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. WE RECOGNIZE THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT WILL NOT USE THE POST OFFICE...
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| 00:10:07 |
HOST, -
A POSTAL WORKER IN LAFAYETTE, INDIANA. CALLER: THE $5.5
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| 00:10:16 |
CALLER, -
BILLION, IS THAT FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES ONLY, OR FOR ALL THE CIVIL SERVICE PEOPLE THAT ARE RETIRED TO ROUTE THE GOVERNMENT? GUEST:
|
| 00:10:26 |
GUEST, -
THE $5.5 BILLION, WHICH IS THE OF THE DEPOSIT -- WHICH IS THE YEARLY DEPOSIT INTO THEIR RETIREMENT, THAT IS FOR EVERYONE. THEY ARE FUNDING IT ALL FOR...
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| 00:11:16 |
HOST, -
LET'S GO BACK TO OUR CAMPAIGN 2012 BUS. TAYLOR IS NEXT. GO AHEAD. >>
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| 00:11:28 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
GOOD MORNING. WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE CAUSES OF THE FINANCIAL LOSSES TO THE POSTAL SERVICE? GUEST: THERE ARE A LOT
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| 00:11:44 |
GUEST, -
OF THINGS PLAYING INTO IT. THE INTERNET PLAYS INTO IT SOME. PEOPLE DID NOT COMMUNICATE IN HARD COPY. WHEN I WAS IN VIETNAM, I LOVE GETTING LETTERS FROM...
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| 00:12:34 |
HOST, -
TO SHOW YOU WHAT THE POSTMASTER GENERAL HAVE TO SAY WHEN HE WAS ON THIS PROGRAM ABOUT THE NEGOTIATIONS WITH UNIONS AND HOW THAT CAME ABOUT. GUEST: WE...
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| 00:12:45 |
GUEST, -
TALKED TO UNIONS. THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES WITH OVERTIME REDUCTION AND OTHER THINGS. YOU COULD CREATE OPPORTUNITIES TO BOOST PEOPLE OFF OF THE ROLES...
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| 00:13:04 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
ON THE UNION NEGOTIATIONS? GUEST: THERE IS
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| 00:13:08 |
GUEST, -
ALWAYS DISCUSSIONS. WE HAVE TO GO UNIONS IN NEGOTIATIONS AND WON IN ARBITRATION. ANY TIME, ESPECIALLY WITH THE ECONOMIC SITUATIONS WE ARE FACING, THAT...
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| 00:13:25 |
HOST, -
GUFFEY, WHAT IS YOUR REACTION? GUEST:
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| 00:13:29 |
GUEST, -
IT IS TROOPER WE WORK VERY CLOSELY. WE ENTERED NEGOTIATIONS -- IT IS TRUE. WE WORK VERY CLOSELY. HE HAS THREE UNIONS HE IS NEGOTIATING WITH. I THINK...
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| 00:14:11 |
HOST, -
HIMSELF, IN INDIANA. CALLER: I WANT
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| 00:14:15 |
CALLER, -
TO MAKE A QUICK COMMENT DARRELL ISSA IS NOT OUR FRIEND. LOVE HIM, BUT HE IS NOT OUR FRIEND. MR. CLIFF GUFFEY, MAKE SURE YOU TELL EVERYBODY OUT THERE...
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| 00:14:42 |
HOST, -
HAVE YOU BEEN PARTICIPATING IN THE PROTEST AROUND THE COUNTRY? CALLER:
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| 00:14:49 |
CALLER, -
YES, MA'AM. I HAVE. I LOVE IT. REMEMBER, THIS IS NOT A BAILOUT. THIS IS OUR MONEY, AND WE WANT CONGRESS TO TAKE THAT MONEY AND GIVE US ACCESS TO IT...
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| 00:15:13 |
HOST, -
CLIFF GUFFEY? GUEST: I APPRECIATE YOU
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| 00:15:16 |
GUEST, -
CALLING IN. U.S. THE BUT THE DEMONSTRATIONS, WE HAVE -- YOU ASKED ABOUT THE DEMONSTRATIONS. WE JUST HAD DEMONSTRATIONS ACROSS THIS COUNTRY. WE FEEL...
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| 00:16:13 |
HOST, -
TWEET. CAN I GUESS, AND WHY HE THINKS THIS PRE FUNDING AND IT APPLIED TO THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE, DOES THIS APPLY TO OTHER AGENCIES? GUEST: I CAN
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| 00:16:25 |
GUEST, -
ONLY SPECULATE BECAUSE I WAS NOT IN THE ROOM WITH THE GENTLEMAN, BUT ANYTIME YOU SAY YOU CANNOT RAISE THE RATES TO PAY FOR SOMETHING AND PUT AN ADDITIONAL...
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| 00:16:58 |
HOST, -
PENSION RESPONSIBILITIES? GUEST: WELL, THE
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| 00:17:01 |
GUEST, -
PENSIONS ARE THERE. THEY'RE BEING PAID FOR SEPARATELY. THIS IS AN ADDITIONAL $5.5 BILLION FOR FUTURE RETIREE HEALTH COSTS.
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| 00:17:15 |
HOST, -
HOST: HOW WOULD YOU MEET THAT? GUEST: HOW
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| 00:17:19 |
GUEST, -
DOES ANY OTHER COUNTRY -- COMPANY IN THE WORLD MAKE IT? HOST: SOMETIMES THEY DID
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| 00:17:25 |
HOST, -
NOT. GUEST: FOR HEALTH
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| 00:17:34 |
GUEST, -
CARE, AND THEY DO
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| 00:17:35 |
HOST, -
NOT. HOST: SOME LOOK AT THE AUTO MAKERS AND SAY THAT IS PART OF THE REASON. GUEST: ALL OF THAT HAS
|
| 00:17:41 |
GUEST, -
BEEN PAID BACK. HOST: RIGHT, BUT IT WAS
|
| 00:17:43 |
HOST, -
BECAUSE OF HEALTH CARE. GUEST: WE ALREADY HAVE
|
| 00:17:47 |
GUEST, -
A FUTURE RETIREE HEALTH CARE INSURANCE FUND -- ALMOST $40 BILLION. ABOUT 40 OR 60% OF THAT, ANY PRIVATE COMPANY WHO DOES THAT IS USUALLY ONLY FINANCED...
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| 00:18:25 |
HOST, -
AGREE WITH THAT? AT SOME POINT, THEY SHOULDGUEST: AT SOME POINT, THEY SHOULD SELL OFF. TAXPAYERS SHOULD NOT PICK IT UP. HOST: GOOD MORNING,
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| 00:18:42 |
HOST, -
RON. CALLER: WHAT STEPS
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| 00:18:52 |
CALLER, -
ARE THEY TAKING TO REVITALIZE THE POSTAL SERVICE ON A LOCAL LEVEL? GUEST: WE HAVE TRIED
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| 00:18:58 |
GUEST, -
OUR BEST TO PROVIDE LOWER-COST EMPLOYEES, PROVIDE FLEXIBILITY, MAINTAIN OFFICES, AND KEEP OFFICES OPEN LONGER. WE ARE GIVEN POST OFFICES THE RIGHT TO...
|
| 00:20:19 |
HOST, -
TO NOT ONLY SAVE MONEY, BUT INCREASE REVENUE? GUEST:
|
| 00:20:22 |
GUEST, -
SURE. MY OFFICE IN WASHINGTON, D.C., IS ONE BLOCK AWAY, IN ONE OF THE HEARTS OF THE DOWNTOWN AREA WERE A LOT OF LAWYERS TAKES THINGS. WE CLOSE AT 5:00....
|
| 00:21:04 |
HOST, -
TO ALLOW ADVERTISING ON THE SIDE OF POSTAL TRUCKS. DO YOU THINK THAT IS A GOOD IDEA? GUEST: IT DEPENDS ON THE
|
| 00:21:13 |
GUEST, -
TYPE OF ADVERTISING. IF IT IS FAMILY-FRIENDLY -- I DO NOT WANT TO SEE BUDWEISER ON THE SIDE OF THE TRUCK. THE POST OFFICE IN SMALL COMMUNITIES IS WHERE...
|
| 00:22:01 |
HOST, -
CONSOLIDATE SERVICES? GUEST:
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| 00:22:03 |
GUEST, -
CONSULTED GOVERNMENT SERVICES.
|
| 00:22:07 |
HOST, -
HOST: IN RURAL AREAS? GUEST: IN
|
| 00:22:12 |
GUEST, -
ALL AREAS. THERE IS NO REASON IT COULD NOT WORK IN LARGE CITIES. WE HAVE A POSITION THAT COULD BENEFIT THE COUNTRY MORE IF WE WERE ALLOWED TO DO SERVICES...
|
| 00:22:32 |
HOST, -
ON THE AIR WITH CLIFF GUFFEY. CALLER: THIS IS
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| 00:22:39 |
CALLER, -
UNBELIEVABLE. IN 2006, GEORGE BUSH AND HIS CRONIES DECIDE TO DESTROY THE ONE INDUSTRY THAT HAS BEEN SUSTAINABLE ON ITS OWN WITHOUT TAXPAYER MONEY, AND...
|
| 00:23:31 |
HOST, -
HOST: CLIFF GUFFEY? GUEST: IT IS
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| 00:23:34 |
GUEST, -
A SHAME, BUT THERE ARE PEOPLE IN GOVERNMENT THAT DO NOT WANT GOVERNMENT TO WORK. THEY WANT GOVERNMENT TO FAIL, AND THE POSTAL SERVICE HAS BEEN AN ENTITY...
|
| 00:24:32 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
STUDENTS ABOARD ARE 2012 BUS IN INDIANA AT THE HIGH SCHOOL. GO AHEAD, STEVE. CALLER:
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| 00:24:39 |
CALLER, -
GOOD MORNING. DO YOU FEEL THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE NEEDS TO BE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT SAVING JOBS OR SAVING MONEY AT THIS POINT? GUEST: I DIG THEY CAN
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| 00:24:50 |
GUEST, -
DO BOTH. THERE ARE WAYS TO STREAMLINE THE SYSTEM WITHOUT CAUSING THE SYSTEM TO COLLAPSE. IF YOU MOVE TOO FAST IN A CHANGING WORLD, YOU CAN EVISCERATE...
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| 00:26:20 |
HOST, -
WORKER IN HOUSTON TEXAS, YOU ARE ON THE AIR. CALLER:
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| 00:26:25 |
CALLER, -
HELLO. WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR A LONG TIME IS DETRACTORS OF THE POSTAL SERVICE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO DO SABOTAGES IT. EVERY INDUSTRIAL NATION WHERE THEY...
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| 00:27:08 |
GUEST, -
I WOULD LOVE TO COMPARE OUR POSTAL SERVICE TO THE GERMAN POSTAL. EQUIVALENT. GERMANY HAS CONTRACTED OUT ALL THEIR STATIONS AND BRANCHES RECENTLY, ALL...
|
| 00:28:54 |
HOST, -
IS CALLING FROM ABORTED CAMPAIGN 2012 BUS. GO AHEAD WITH YOUR QUESTION. CALLER: 1 AND DO
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| 00:29:01 |
CALLER, -
YOU THINK IT'S THE BIGGEST MISCONCEPTION THAT AMERICANS HAVE ABOUT THE POSTAL SERVICE?
|
| 00:29:06 |
GUEST, -
GUEST: CLEARLY THE BIGGEST MISCONCEPTION WE HAVE IN THIS COUNTRY IS THAT IT PAID FOR BY TAX DOLLARS. IT IS SOLELY RUN BY THE POSTED REVENUE THAT COMES...
|
| 00:29:31 |
GUEST, -
MILLION. IT WAS AN AWAKENING TO THE AMERICAN PUBLIC AND CHANGED THE DIALOGUE IN A LOT OF THE NEWS MEDIA THAT WERE SAYING IT WAS PAID FOR BY TAX DOLLARS....
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| 00:30:24 |
HOST, -
AN E-MAIL FROM FRANKLIN, CONN. ALSO SERVICE NEEDS INNOVATION, NO SATURDAY DELIVERY. WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THOSE BURSARY-- THOSE? WHAT ABOUT ELIMINATING...
|
| 00:30:52 |
GUEST, -
SAVE EVERYTHING AND NOT DELIVER AT ALL. IF YOU ARE A SERVICE, YOU ARE A SERVICE. IT'S NOT GOING TO SAVE THAT MUCH MONEY WHEN YOU HAVE OVERPAID PENSION...
|
| 00:32:11 |
HOST, -
HOST: MICHAEL IS A REPUBLICAN IN MICHIGAN. CALLER:
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| 00:32:14 |
CALLER, -
GOOD MORNING. I AM ALSO A DISABLED VETERAN. THAT MAKES US BROTHERS. GUEST: VERY
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| 00:32:19 |
GUEST, -
GOOD BROTHERS. CALLER: WE USED TO
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| 00:32:22 |
CALLER, -
GET OUR MEDICATION DELIVERED BY UPS OR FEDEX, AS YOU KNOW. WE NOW GET IT THROUGH THE POST OFFICE. ALTHOUGH IT IS PROBABLY A LOT CHEAPER, YOU GUYS ARE...
|
| 00:33:11 |
GUEST, -
APOLOGIZE. I GET MY MEDICATION, OF THEM PER MONTH, 90 DAY-SPURTS. THE MINUTE I GET THEM THIS MONTH I CALL NINE DAYS IN ADVANCE. I HAVE NEVER MISSED ONE....
|
| 00:34:13 |
HOST, -
HAS SENT THIS E- MAIL. GUEST: THE ISSUE
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| 00:34:32 |
GUEST, -
HAS BEEN ADDRESSING LATELY OVER THE LAST NUMBER YEARS, THERE'S BEEN A GREAT REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF OVERHEAD COSTS. WE'RE LOOKING AT ONE OF THE THINGS...
|
| 00:35:08 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
18, LEVEL 6, WITH THE AVERAGE SALARY? GUEST: LEVEL 6,
|
| 00:35:12 |
GUEST, -
AROUND SOMEWHERE IN THE MID 40'S. LOW 60'S IS PROBABLY 60 OR 70. >>HOST:
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| 00:35:21 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
THAT AS A SUPERVISOR?
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| 00:35:24 |
GUEST, -
GUEST: CORRECT. THEY SAY WE ARE OVERPAID, BUT ANYTHING THEY CAN STRIP AWAY FROM US BY TIMEKEEPING AND VARIOUS ACTIVITIES, PERSONNEL WORK, THEY SAY WE...
|
| 00:35:41 |
HOST, -
TO ANOTHER STUDENT, CODY JONES.
|
| 00:35:44 |
CALLER, -
CALLER: HELLO. ARE THERE ANY SERVICES THAT THE POST OFFICE COULD CUT THAT ARE NOT USEFUL TO AMERICANS ANYMORE THAT WOULD HELP THE POST OFFICE REDUCE...
|
| 00:36:02 |
GUEST, -
THERE ARE ANY SERVICES THAT WE ARE NOT USING. THERE ARE SOME SERVICES THEY MAY HAVE TO BRING BACK. THINGS LIKE -- IF THEY GO TO YOUR DAYS OF DELIVER...
|
| 00:36:47 |
HOST, -
WORKER IN OKLAHOMA CITY. CALLER: I WOULD
|
| 00:36:53 |
CALLER, -
JUST LIKE TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO MR. FRANK DUFFY. BECAME A LONG WAY FROM OKLAHOMA CITY. I THINK HE'S DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB AND WE NEED TO LET THE...
|
| 00:37:14 |
GUEST, -
ALIKE, FRANK. -- THANKS A LOT. I CAME UP THROUGH THE SYSTEM? 40 YEARS. HOST: JOANNE
|
| 00:37:26 |
HOST, -
IS A DEMOCRAT IN CHICAGO. CALLER: I AM
|
| 00:37:29 |
CALLER, -
A RETIRED POSTAL WORKER AND MY QUESTION IS, WHY IS OUR HEALTH CARE INSURANCE -- IT HAS BEEN SO HIGH, WE PAY ALL OF OUR PREMIUMS AND IT HAS BEEN GOING...
|
| 00:38:10 |
GUEST, -
GUEST: I AGREE. THAT'S A TRAGEDY THE WAY THE HEALTH CARE IN THIS COUNTRY, THE COSTS HAVE GONE UP 14% OR 60% PER YEAR, WHICH IS REFLECTED IN THE PAVEMENT...
|
| 00:39:26 |
HOST, -
POSTMASTER GENERAL SPOKE ABOUT THE PRE FUNDING RETIREMENT. >> I AGREE WITH
|
| 00:39:33 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
THE FACT WE HAVE TO MOVE AWAY FROM THE RETIREMENT OR PRE-FUNDING OF RETIREMENT. SECOND ISSUE IS LOOKING FORWARD. CHANGING THE REQUIREMENT TO PRE- FUND...
|
| 00:40:20 |
HOST, -
FROM OUR STUDENTS ABOARD THE CAMPAIGN 2012 BUS. ZACH. CALLER: WHAT
|
| 00:40:29 |
CALLER, -
IS YOUR OPINION OF REMOVAL OF SATURDAY MAIL? GUEST: I HAVE
|
| 00:40:33 |
GUEST, -
STATED REPEATEDLY THAT I DON'T LIKE TO SEE ANY SERVICES, TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. THEY HAVE PAID FOR THE SERVICES AND THE MONEY IS THERE, BUT IT'S BEING...
|
| 00:42:32 |
HOST, -
SCHOOL STUDENT TEST AND IS OUR LAST PHONE CALL. CALLER:
|
| 00:42:35 |
CALLER, -
HELLO. WHAT CAN ECONOMISTS DO NOT DO TO RESTORE PROFITABILITY TO OUR POSTAL SYSTEM? GUEST: I THINK
|
| 00:42:47 |
GUEST, -
THIS IS A MISNOMER. THE POST OFFICE WOULD BE PROFITABLE TO IF THEY WERE NOT OVERCHARGED FOR ALL THESE OTHER CONGRESSIONAL FUNDS. IF THEY WOULD SET THAT...
|
| 00:43:49 |
HOST, -
NEXT IN THE DEBATE? GUEST: I THINK THE
|
| 00:43:53 |
GUEST, -
NEXT BATTLE TURNS TO CAPITOL HILL, THE STRUGGLES. IT IS A CONTINUING STRUGGLE IN CONGRESS AT THIS TIME. I DON'T WANT TO CHARACTERIZE IT AS A PARTISAN...
|
| 00:44:41 |
HOST, -
GUFFEY OF THE AMERICAN POSTAL WORKERS UNION. THANK YOU. WE ALSO WANT TO SPANX THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ABOARD OUR CAMPAIGN 2012 BUS IN INDIANA AND WE...
|
| 00:45:08 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
9:22 IN WASHINGTON. NEW ECONOMIC NEWS FROM THE GOVERNMENT. THE ECONOMY GREW A LITTLE FASTER IN THE SPRING THAN PREVIOUSLY ESTIMATED, BUT STILL STAYED...
|
| 00:47:01 |
Unidentified Speaker, -
IS ON THE C-SPAN NETWORKS WITH C- SPAN NOW
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NOTE: The transcript for this program was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.