Postal Troubles

WASHINGTON (AP) - With the U.S. Postal Service in financial trouble, officials are turning to Congress for help.

Postmaster General John Potter and other top agency officials will appear before a House subcommittee today.

The post office was $2.8 billion in the red last year. It's facing even larger losses this year due to the sharp decline in
mail volume in the weak economy.

Potter has raised the possibility of cutting mail delivery from six days a week to five. He's also seeking relief from the
requirement to set aside several billion dollars annually to prefund retiree medical care.

Last week, the post office said it plans to offer early retirement to 150,000 workers. It's also eliminating 1,400
management positions and closing six of its 80 district offices across the country in cost-cutting efforts.