The Washington Post
WASHINGTON — Postmaster General John Potter told a Senate panel Thursday that he needs $3 billion to help the U.S. Postal Service pay for new technology to fight anthrax, as well as $2 billion to cover projected lost revenue since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. But lawmakers immediately signaled reluctance to approve a $5 billion bailout.
"Users of the mail should not be burdened with these extra costs through the price of postage," Potter said. "This could quickly threaten the foundation of a universal postal system serving all Americans."
Under pointed questioning, Potter estimated that his critical short-term need would be about $1 billion for technology and security. That was the cost lawmakers seemed most willing to try to accommodate.
"We probably are not going to cover" lost revenue, Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, R-Colo., the ranking Republican on the appropriations committee that covers the Postal Service, told Potter and his colleagues, noting that President Bush has threatened to veto requests for additional emergency spending beyond the $40 billion Congress has already approved.
Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, warned postal officials, "Be sure your people have sharpened pencils" because requests for money will be studied closely. Dollars given to the Postal Service will be dollars taken away from somebody else, he said.
In recent days, lawmakers indicated a willingness to help the Postal Service in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist and subsequent anthrax attacks. But with competing requests for help from many quarters, including the Pentagon, the U.S. Customs Service and myriad industries that were hurt by the attacks, the White House has sought to ensure fiscal discipline.
Potter acknowledged that the Postal Service has not yet determined what type of technology it will use to kill biochemical agents. It is looking at electron-beam, X-ray technology, but that is very expensive — about $5 million a machine, and operating costs could run to $1 billion a year.
Postal Service chief engineer Tom Day said the agency is also studying the feasibility of using chlorine dioxide, which would cost substantially less. "Chlorine dioxide clearly kills anthrax spores," he said. "The question is its penetration capacity." Scientists do not know, he said, how much would be needed to kill anthrax spores inside an envelope.
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