House GOP Waiting on Postal Service Drop-Dead Date to Move on Reform Bill

The House has left Washington without passing a fix to the Postal Service. House Republicans acknowledge that postal reform could be a tough vote for some of their members, with the issue not breaking down as cleanly along ideological lines as subjects such as the Bush-era tax rates the House voted on just before leaving for recess.

But sponsors of the House GOP postal bill suggest another factor at play as well: Lawmakers don't know exactly when the Postal Service might hit a doomsday date when they wouldn't be able to deliver the mail.

Congress having a habit of waiting to act