ID :
32810
Fri, 11/28/2008 - 18:28
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/32810
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Lee asks for swift parliamentary passage of 2009 budget bill
SEOUL, Nov. 28 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak on Friday called for a swift parliamentary approval of his government's 2009 budget bill, warning a further delay will hamper his effort to implement economic stimulus measures designed to
fight the economic crisis.
"I urge the National Assembly to ratify the new year's budget bill as soon as
possible, so the government can enforce extraordinary (stimulus) measures to
revitalize the economy," Lee was quoted by his spokesman as saying in a meeting
with Assembly leaders.
"Timing and speed (of the budget spending) are particularly important in order to
stimulate the economy and boost consumption. Losing an opportunity is worse than
a policy failure," the president said.
Lee's remarks came as rival parties are still deadlocked over the details of next
year's budget bill. In early November, the Lee government submitted a revised
2009 budget plan calling for increasing its fiscal spending by over 10 percent
from this year to 283 trillion won (US$193.2 billion).
The ruling Grand National Party (GNP) has vowed to ratify the budget bill before
the Constitution-set deadline of Dec. 9, saying time is running out to make
sweeping tax cuts and fiscal spending increases.
But the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) has refused to cooperate, saying a
combination of planned tax cuts and increased expenditures would worsen the
government's fiscal soundness. The opposition party also insists the government's
planned tax cuts are mostly intended to benefit the rich.
In the meeting with chiefs of Assembly standing committees and floor leaders of
political parties, President Lee again stressed that he is willing to sacrifice
himself to pave the ground for the nation's advancement, according to his
spokesman Lee Dong-kwan.
DP floor leaders did not attend the meeting due mainly to the budget bill
dispute. The party chairman, Chung Sye-kyun, also turned down the president's
invitation to have a meeting over the economic crisis next week.
ycm@yna.co.kr
(END)
fight the economic crisis.
"I urge the National Assembly to ratify the new year's budget bill as soon as
possible, so the government can enforce extraordinary (stimulus) measures to
revitalize the economy," Lee was quoted by his spokesman as saying in a meeting
with Assembly leaders.
"Timing and speed (of the budget spending) are particularly important in order to
stimulate the economy and boost consumption. Losing an opportunity is worse than
a policy failure," the president said.
Lee's remarks came as rival parties are still deadlocked over the details of next
year's budget bill. In early November, the Lee government submitted a revised
2009 budget plan calling for increasing its fiscal spending by over 10 percent
from this year to 283 trillion won (US$193.2 billion).
The ruling Grand National Party (GNP) has vowed to ratify the budget bill before
the Constitution-set deadline of Dec. 9, saying time is running out to make
sweeping tax cuts and fiscal spending increases.
But the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) has refused to cooperate, saying a
combination of planned tax cuts and increased expenditures would worsen the
government's fiscal soundness. The opposition party also insists the government's
planned tax cuts are mostly intended to benefit the rich.
In the meeting with chiefs of Assembly standing committees and floor leaders of
political parties, President Lee again stressed that he is willing to sacrifice
himself to pave the ground for the nation's advancement, according to his
spokesman Lee Dong-kwan.
DP floor leaders did not attend the meeting due mainly to the budget bill
dispute. The party chairman, Chung Sye-kyun, also turned down the president's
invitation to have a meeting over the economic crisis next week.
ycm@yna.co.kr
(END)
