In response to President Obama’s proposed budget released Monday, PMG Patrick Donahoe said he is “looking forward to working with the White House and Congress on specific proposals that involve the Postal Service.”

Among other items, the budget proposes:

• restructuring Retiree Health Benefit pre-funding;
• refunding to USPS over a period of two years, $10.9 billion in overpayments to the Federal Employees Retirement System;
• allowing USPS to transition to five-day per week delivery starting in 2013;
• allowing USPS to increase collaboration with state and local governments; and
• giving USPS the ability to better align costs while operating within the current Consumer Price Index price cap, and permitting USPS to seek the balance of the one-time exigent price increase filed in 2010.

“Bold action is needed to ensure that USPS can continue to operate in the short run and achieve viability in the long run,” the President wrote in the budget.

In a statement released yesterday, the PMG thanked the President for recognizing the issues. “I would like to thank the President for continuing to acknowledge the enormous value of the U.S. Postal Service to the nation’s commerce and communications,” said Donahoe. “The President also recognized the urgent need for reform to ensure the Postal Service’s future viability.”