Printers Lobbying for Postal Rate Relief

WASHINGTON, DC—A House of Representatives hearing is scheduled for Wednesday at 2 p.m., and Ovid Bell Press CEO John Bell is hoping that a group of printers, publishers and associations can make a sufficient stink regarding postal rates.

While Congress can’t control the rates set by the Postal Rate Commission, Bell is hoping to share horror stories from printers and publishers to prove that some rates are having catastrophic effects on short- and medium-run publications and periodicals. He noted that two drastic cases resulted in a 50+ percent increase in mailing costs.

By sharing their experiences with Congress, Bell is hoping to bring pressure on the Postal Rate Commission. “If we raise our voices, ultimately we will be heard,” he said, in making a request for printers to e-mail their postal rate tales of woe to the PIA/GATF at govtaffairs@printing.org.

It is the hope of Bell and many within the printing industry that there can be some corrections once the next rate case is heard. The previous case tied rates with piece shape, as opposed to weight, actually causing rates for some classes to decline while others skyrocketed.

“What we’re looking for is restructuring in the upcoming rate case, to right the wrongs,” Bell said. “Washington needs to know what (the increases) are doing to publishers and printers.”