Postal Reform -- Congress Must Deliver

The quest for reform is not a new one, Cooper notes, but for about 10 years neither chamber was able to graduate a bill out of committee. The 2004 effort was the most successful, but time predictably ran out during the presidential election year.

It was the pension fund issue that ultimately sparked the reform engine, which itself warmed up following the fallout of 9/11, the Anthrax scare and technological advances that caused a marked drop in volume. And now, on the eve of viable reform, the toughest questions will need addressing.