2012 Legislative Agenda : USPS, Elections Force Hands

Donahoe has effectively put the ball back in Congress' court, armed with a moving-forward plan should Congress come up lame in its bid to author new postal reform.

"To be cynical, we've been at critical times in the past and Congress just kicks the can down the road," Lyons notes. "We may have reached the tipping point this time around. The legislative process is moving through the House and Senate. From a time line standpoint, this will be something Congress is considering during the first four months of 2012."