U.S. Labor Department Warns Comp Payments Could Run Out

By Michael Whiteley, Eastern Bureau ChiefThe U.S. Labor Department is warning Congress that a potential failure by the U.S. Postal Service to make a $1.2 billion payment on its workers' compensation obligations in October could leave injured federal workers without benefits during the last four months of fiscal year 2012.Brian V. Kennedy, assistant labor secretary for Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs, issued the warning in an Aug. 1 letter to U.S. Rep. Darrel E. Issa, R-Calif., chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Government Oversight and Reform.Issa questioned whether the La...