Tone Deaf to the Needs of Nonprofits

Rep. Darryl Issa (R-CA) showed a lot of insensitivity when he introduced H.R. 2309, a bill that would gradually raise and eliminate lower postage rates for nonprofit mailers on the pretext that doing so might help cut the USPS’s deficit.

It must be just sheer callousness or tone-deafness to the sufferings of the less fortunate that would drive anybody to even think of eliminating or raising lower postage rates for nonprofit mailers on the pretext that it might help cut the USPS’s deficit.

But that’s exactly what Rep. Darryl Issa http://issa.house.gov/ wants to do with his bill H.R. 2309.

Originally, Issa wanted to raise nonprofit rates by 50% over six years.  But he eventually compromised on hiking rates by only 2% a year until they reach 80% of commercial rates vs. the 60% they are now.

Thankfully, I guess, that bill is currently stalled in the House.

"This is the first time there's been a proposal for the elimination of nonprofit discounts to help fix the postal service's financial problems," says Tony Conway, executive director of the Alliance of Nonprofit Mailers http://www.nonprofitmailers.org)

Issa’s bill may indeed never see the light of day but that’s not the point.

Yes you could argue that a lot of nonprofits are awash in cash and some on the outside may believe they really need don’t these discounts.

But what about local food banks, homeless shelters and missions scattered across the country?

Most will tell you their fundraising rests very largely with direct mail and that they would adapt to higher rates if they have to, even if it takes money away from their primary services.

But should they have to? Can’t Congress come up with less mean-spirited ways to help out the USPS?

Nonprofits have been under attack for many years, starting with the gradual elimination of revenue forgone, a subsidy the federal government paid the USPS to keep postage rates low.

While many scream that private entities and not government should be helping out the poor, it’s ironic anybody would want hobble these organizations.