And now some fresh pickings from the Political Grapevine...
The Biggest Loser
The U.S. Postal Service says its net loss last year grew to $15.9 billion -- that's almost a billion dollars more than projected.
The service lost $5 billion the year before.
The Postal Service runs out of cash in October of 2013 if Congress does not act.
Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe says -- quote -- "We are walking a financial tightrope. Will we ever stop delivering the mail? It will never happen. We are simply too important to the economy and the flow of commerce."
But mail volume is down 5 percent.
Rising Health Care Costs
A Florida businessman who owns 40 Denny's restaurants is now charging a 5 percent ObamaCare surcharge and cutting employee hours to deal with the cost of health care reform.
John Metz justifies the move -- claiming it is -- quote -- "The only alternative. I've got to pass on the cost to the customer."
Metz says he hopes other restaurants will rally around the ObamaCare surcharge instead of just raising prices without explaining why.
Dude, Where's My Caucus?
Finally, Congress can be confusing even if you're a member.
Roll Call reports at the Democratic caucus meeting Wednesday when everyone stood to applaud Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi one frantic congressman-elect dashed out.
It seems New York Republican Chris Collins turned up at the wrong caucus.
A Collins aide tried to put lipstick on that donkey. Quote -- "Congressman-elect Collins believes very strongly in reaching bipartisan solutions to fix this country's problems. What better way to accomplish that than introducing himself to his colleagues on the other side of the aisle."
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