Government Relations: Legislative Quick Hits

The Association of Educational Publishers

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Welcome to AEP Legislative Quick Hits. Here, we summarize recent educational legislation. Visit here weekly for the latest news and information you’ll need to mobilize around the issues that are important to you.

AEP – your voice in government relations. Contact us if you have any questions or comments.

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Postal Rate Case

December 19, 2006

To Postal Commission
Fr: Association of Educational Publishers
Re: USPS Rate case

Dear Postal Commissioner,

AEP is a not-for-profit association of educational publishers. We come to you with our concerns about the rate case filed by the USPS in May 2006. At that time AEP had yet to determine if our organization would become a party to the case, but decided not to do so and now choose to provide these comments about the proposed increases. Even in light of the recent passage of postal reform legislation we are still concerned about the impact such increases will have on our member’s products. Ultimately there will be a greater cost to our public school system.

It is our understanding that the USPS needs the additional revenue to comply with the breakeven constraint provision in the law, and by 2008 they will carry a significant debt without the changes. What the USPS proposes is an average increase of 8.5% on top of the 5.4% increase just last January. Even with these fiscal realities, we in general object to a rate increase that is more than double the CPI for 2005 at 3.4%.

As you are probably aware the law provides some protection for the mailers of educational materials in the classroom periodical rate. However, the proposed 6.4% increase will still affect our ability to provide the periodicals to SEA’s and LEA’s at the current rates. Our prices will have to increase in proportion to the final rate increase. This may affect the decision of certain SEA’s or LEA’s to discontinue to purchase such materials as they are not required materials, but a supplement to the core curriculums. Losing these materials will not only cost jobs, but will also diminish the richness of the classroom experience for children who depend on many periodicals to enhance their learning.

We are also concerned about proposed increases in the Library and BPM rates. In recent years the BPM rate has increased 34.8% in last three years - more than any other mailing class - the library rate is still 48.6% higher than the BPM rate. Currently, the library and book rates aren't taking into account the, "educational, cultural, scientific and informational value" of the mail and its recipient as mandated in the 1970 Postal Reorganization Act. As a consequence, these rates are failing to support educational needs and important educational programs. Any increases in either rate will exacerbate the problem causing educational mailers to continue their migrations to private carriers.

Thank you for your attention to the concerns of our organization. Please feel free to contact us for further information.

Sincerely,

Charlene Gaynor
CEO
Association of Educational Publishers