ID :
78834
Mon, 09/07/2009 - 17:37
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/78834
The shortlink copeid
President calls for swift budget approval to boost economy
SEOUL, Sept. 7 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak called on lawmakers Monday to
swiftly approve the 2010 budget to enable the government to continue battling the
global economic crisis that he said will continue next year.
Parliament has often failed to approve the state budget in the past due to
disputes between rival parties over unrelated political issues. The main
opposition Democratic Party and other splinter parties are again likely to oppose
next year's budget bill as proposed by the government.
President Lee tried to press the Assembly for swift action, noting failure to
approve state budget in time will cause ordinary citizens and workers to suffer
the most severe damage.
"Because the economic crisis has yet to come to an end, the budget for 2010 will
have to be one that will help overcome the crisis, but it will also have to be
one that creates jobs," Lee said in a meeting of a special presidential committee
on the economic crisis.
The committee has usually met each Thursday since it was established at the
beginning of the year. Monday's meeting was previously unscheduled.
The opposition earlier accused the government of trying to cut its welfare
spending next year to finance multi-billion-dollar river restoration projects.
Lee dismissed the accusation, saying spending on public welfare will increase by
a larger margin than any other category.
"Also, increasing our spending on welfare even under such a crisis means the
budget is taking into consideration the ordinary citizens and the socially weak,"
he said.
"It is important to let the people know things as they are, because what we are
trying to do is to come up with an appropriate budget. The truth must not be
distorted," the president added.
The government will submit the budget bill to the National Assembly following
final consultations with ministries and the ruling Grand National Party. The
parliament, which convened on Tuesday, has until the end of its 100-day session
to act on the bill.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)
swiftly approve the 2010 budget to enable the government to continue battling the
global economic crisis that he said will continue next year.
Parliament has often failed to approve the state budget in the past due to
disputes between rival parties over unrelated political issues. The main
opposition Democratic Party and other splinter parties are again likely to oppose
next year's budget bill as proposed by the government.
President Lee tried to press the Assembly for swift action, noting failure to
approve state budget in time will cause ordinary citizens and workers to suffer
the most severe damage.
"Because the economic crisis has yet to come to an end, the budget for 2010 will
have to be one that will help overcome the crisis, but it will also have to be
one that creates jobs," Lee said in a meeting of a special presidential committee
on the economic crisis.
The committee has usually met each Thursday since it was established at the
beginning of the year. Monday's meeting was previously unscheduled.
The opposition earlier accused the government of trying to cut its welfare
spending next year to finance multi-billion-dollar river restoration projects.
Lee dismissed the accusation, saying spending on public welfare will increase by
a larger margin than any other category.
"Also, increasing our spending on welfare even under such a crisis means the
budget is taking into consideration the ordinary citizens and the socially weak,"
he said.
"It is important to let the people know things as they are, because what we are
trying to do is to come up with an appropriate budget. The truth must not be
distorted," the president added.
The government will submit the budget bill to the National Assembly following
final consultations with ministries and the ruling Grand National Party. The
parliament, which convened on Tuesday, has until the end of its 100-day session
to act on the bill.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)
