Washington, DC, April 11, 2001 - Magazine Publishers of America (MPA) today charged that the U.S. Postal Service's call to possibly eliminate Saturday delivery service is an "attention getting political maneuver designed to muster public support for another huge postal rate increase." MPA called on the U.S. Congress to reject this latest ploy and to oppose any attempt to raise rates for at least a year. "Threatening to cut out a day of delivery is an age-old political tactic of the Postal Service," said Nina Link, MPA's President and CEO. "By recommending a new study on five-day delivery, the Postal Service appears to be engaging in political gamesmanship to amass support for increased rates. Magazine publishers remain firmly convinced that a postal rate increase at this time will only drive customers away from the postal system." "Two months ago MPA called on the Postal Service to take a time out from further rate increases and implement a hiring freeze as well as improve productivity to help reduce costs," continued Link. "The future of this country's postal system depends on the Postal Service's ability to contain costs and operate with greater efficiency and productivity - not to continually seek higher rates as a solution to their financial woes. We urge lawmakers to recognize the Postal Service announcement considering five-day service for what it is - a political threat that fails to promote or produce lasting solutions."