Moderators ThudMaker Posted February 18, 2009 Moderators Share Posted February 18, 2009 Postmaster General Gets Pay Bonus as Agency Falters Postmaster General John Potter's base salary climbed to $265,000 last year from $186,000 in 2007 and he received a performance bonus of $135,000, all approved by Congress. By Stephen Clark FOXNews.com Wednesday, February 18, 2009 In a Sept. 30, 2005, file photo Postmaster General John Potter gestures during an interview in Washington, Friday, Sept. 30, 2005. The Postal Service is investigating whether Potter improperly received a sweetheart deal on a mortgage from Countrywide Financial Corp., Alan Kessler the chairman of the service's governing board said. As the U.S. Postal Service considers cutting delivery service in the face of dwindling mail volume and rising costs, the postmaster general received a big pay raise and a performance bonus last year, all authorized by Congress. Postmaster General John Potter's base salary climbed to $265,000 last year from $186,000 in 2007. He also received a performance bonus of $135,000. In all his total compensation -- salary, bonuses, retirement benefits and other perks -- topped $850,000, a spokesman with the U.S. Postal Service told FOXNews.com on Wednesday. At the same time, the Postal Service, an independent federal agency, is crumbling alongside the economy and as online communications increase competition. The Postal Service lost $2.8 billion last year when total mail volume recorded 202 billion pieces of mail, its largest single drop in history -- down more than 9 billion pieces from a year earlier. Despite annual rate increases, including stamp prices set to rise another two cents in May, 2009 could be the first year since 1946 that the actual amount of money collected by the service declines. Potter told a Senate committee last month that if current trends continue, the agency could lose $6 billion or more this fiscal year. "The current difficulties we're facing is not unlike any other corporation in America in these difficult times," Gerry McKiernan, a spokesman for the Postal Service, said McKiernan said Potter has imposed a salary freeze on all executives in 2009, including himself, and noted that Potter's bonus is deferred until he leaves the federal service. He said no taxpayer money is involved in his compensation and independent assessments have shown that Potter has performed well in managing a $75 billion corporation. The spokesman would not respond to growing criticism of Potter's pay package, saying "Everybody has to evaluate these things on their own." One lawmaker who serves on the House subcommittee on the Postal Service has evaluated the compensation and called it "egregious." "On the surface, this just doesn't pass the basic smell test," Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, told FOXNews.com. Congress authorized higher salaries for top Postal Service executives in late 2006 in an effort to attract and retain the best talent. Sen. Thomas Carper, D-Del., chairman of a Senate subcommittee overseeing the Postal Service, said the postmaster general's pay package appears to be in line with the limitations included in that legislation that he helped craft. "That said, the Postal Service did suffer significant losses last year and is on track for a disappointing year again," he said in a statement to FOXNews.com. "I look forward to discussing this issue with members of the board to ensure that the system they use to determine executive pay is appropriate and in line with the Postal Service's current financial condition." Chaffetz said he will call for a hearing if one has not already been scheduled. "I didn't create this problem," said Chaffetz, a freshman lawmaker, "but I hope to help clean it up. To make double what the president makes seems excessive." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members guitargod0dmw Posted February 18, 2009 Members Share Posted February 18, 2009 Jebus that's one heckuva raise... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BottomHeavyKate Posted February 18, 2009 Members Share Posted February 18, 2009 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ec437 Posted February 18, 2009 Members Share Posted February 18, 2009 He said no taxpayer money is involved in his compensation As long as it isn't my taxmonies payin for it, I don't really give a rat's ass what he makes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators ThudMaker Posted February 18, 2009 Author Moderators Share Posted February 18, 2009 Meh. As long as it isn't my taxmonies payin for it, I don't really give a rat's ass what he makes. No. It's all included in your government approved price of mailing anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ec437 Posted February 18, 2009 Members Share Posted February 18, 2009 No. It's all included in your government approved price of mailing anything. Once again, don't care if I don't mail anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators ThudMaker Posted February 18, 2009 Author Moderators Share Posted February 18, 2009 Once again, don't care if I don't mail anything.I'll remember that next time you purchase some odds and ends from me off of HCBF. My asking price will avoid the post office and I'll just have Mr. Scott beam them to you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Hearafter Posted February 18, 2009 Members Share Posted February 18, 2009 Once again, don't care if I don't mail anything. That's the attitude! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ec437 Posted February 18, 2009 Members Share Posted February 18, 2009 I'll remember that next time you purchase some odds and ends from me off of HCBF. My asking price will avoid the post office and I'll just have Mr. Scott beam them to you. The only thing you are legally required to send by USPS is a first class letter. I honestly cannot remember the last time I sent or received a first class letter that I could not have done without. If its actually important, I send it UPS/fedex/whatever anyways. If its a package, I definitely don't send it USPS. Soooo, yeah, that beaming technology sounds pretty cool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members s4001 Posted February 18, 2009 Members Share Posted February 18, 2009 Actually, 230K for being the CEO of an organization of that size is peanuts. He must be getting paid for his management skills. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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