House leader won't join Sioux City in postal dispute
By Dave Dreeszen Journal business editor | Posted: Thursday, April 27, 2006
WASHINGTON -- House Majority Leader John Boehner declined an invitation Wednesday to intervene on Sioux City's behalf in its dispute with the U.S. Postal Service.
"I've got my hands full," Boehner told local officials in Washington. The Ohio Republican motioned to 5th District Rep. Steve King, seated next to him at the podium, and said, "I'm sure he'll take care of you," Boehner said. "You've also got two U.S. senators."
Boehner's remarks followed a request for help from City Councilman Jim Rixner, who related the city's frustrations with the Postal Service consolidation study. Local leaders fear the agency will close the Sioux City mail processing center and move the work and some 50 jobs to Sioux Falls. Member of Iowa's congressional delegationhave requested a meeting with U.S. Postmaster General John Potter. The lawmakers have been critical of the Postal Service for its refusal to release an Area Mail Processing study, and for failing to consider local public input.
At meetings this week, Sioux City officials thanked King and Sens. Chuck Grassley and Tom Harkin for their efforts. Grassley said Postal Service officials were not as forthcoming at a recent town hall meeting as they had initially indicated.
"We were promised by these people that they were going to answer every question and even have some new information," he said. "I'm sorry it didn't turn out the way I told you."
At Wednesday night's steak dinner hosted by the Siouxland delegation, King said the future of the Sioux City processing center may lie with the Iowa delegation's Postal Reformed Act, which is pending in a joint conference committee.
"I've got my hands full," Boehner told local officials in Washington. The Ohio Republican motioned to 5th District Rep. Steve King, seated next to him at the podium, and said, "I'm sure he'll take care of you," Boehner said. "You've also got two U.S. senators."
Boehner's remarks followed a request for help from City Councilman Jim Rixner, who related the city's frustrations with the Postal Service consolidation study. Local leaders fear the agency will close the Sioux City mail processing center and move the work and some 50 jobs to Sioux Falls. Member of Iowa's congressional delegationhave requested a meeting with U.S. Postmaster General John Potter. The lawmakers have been critical of the Postal Service for its refusal to release an Area Mail Processing study, and for failing to consider local public input.
At meetings this week, Sioux City officials thanked King and Sens. Chuck Grassley and Tom Harkin for their efforts. Grassley said Postal Service officials were not as forthcoming at a recent town hall meeting as they had initially indicated.
"We were promised by these people that they were going to answer every question and even have some new information," he said. "I'm sorry it didn't turn out the way I told you."
At Wednesday night's steak dinner hosted by the Siouxland delegation, King said the future of the Sioux City processing center may lie with the Iowa delegation's Postal Reformed Act, which is pending in a joint conference committee.
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