Assembly begins extra session

The National Assembly kicked off its 30-day extraordinary session on Thursday in an effort to pass contentious bills that were shelved from the 100-day regular session due to partisan bickering over bills on business regulations, national security and election rules. 

But the prospect of the bills clearing the Assembly remained uncertain as the rival parties have yet to agree on the parliamentary schedule for legislation, even as the outstanding bills are stuck at relevant committees.

Frustrated over the fate of the outgoing 19th National Assembly that has managed to pass only about one-third of pending bills during its term, Speaker Chung Ui-hwa urged the lawmakers to finish passing the bills before the session ends on Jan 8., 2016.

“This is virtually the last parliamentary session before the 2016 general elections. We must pass the bills and finish our homework. Otherwise, the 19th Assembly will go down in history as the worst parliament,” said Chung.

The speaker reiterated that the lawmakers must pass key legislations such as business-related bills that aim to relax regulations on the service industry and companies looking to purse M&As, and other bills related to labor reform, counterterrorism, and North Korea’s human rights.

The National Assembly`s Speaker Chung Uwi-hwa. Yonhap

Chug also demanded that the rival parties come up with a plan to redraw constituencies for the 2016 general elections. The five-term lawmaker hinted that he would take “extraordinary” measures unless the parties agree on new election rules before Dec. 15 when the prospective candidates begin to file nominations.

The rival parties’ leadership decided to meet this Saturday to hammer out the electoral maps. Though they have tentatively agreed to increase about six seats for those elected from constituencies, the parties remain at odds over the seats reserved for proportional representation.

Despite the speaker’s denouncement that the rival parties are “preoccupied with old-fashioned ideological bias,” the ruling Saenuri Party and the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy continued their bickering over legislative affairs.

While the main opposition party vowed to boycott the session in protest against the Saenuri Party’s attempt to push through the contentious legislations without bipartisan consensus, the ruling party mounted pressure on the opposition citing they are running out of time.

“I deliver my sincere apology to the people for failing to maintain our agreement to pass the bills,” said the Saenuri Party chairman Rep. Kim Moo-sung, referring to the Dec. 2 agreement with NPAD to pass the contentious bills by Dec. 9, the concluding day of the regular session.

“Take this extra session as the last opportunity to revive the nation’s economy and improve the people’s livelihood, we have to make utmost efforts to pass the bills. Although they should be assessed on whether they will serve the interests of the people, the NPAD is against the bills simply because (they oppose) the president,” said Kim.

Over the past few days, President Park has urged the lawmakers to pass the contentious bills that she describes as a crucial to boost the nation’s flagging economy. She denounced the lawmakers saying the Assembly is abandoning its duties as the legislative branch.

Criticizing Park for belittling the lawmakers, the NPAD reiterated that it would oppose the passage of the bills unless the Saenuri Party agrees to resolve contentious issues in the clauses.

“The Assembly is becoming like a Cabinet meeting, a place where people do nothing but listen to Park’s remarks and write that down to survive,” said NPAD whip Rep. Lee Jong-kul. “(Also,) we have reiterated that we are not in a situation to make good laws because we have not fully discussed the problems (of contentious bills),” Lee said.  

Among them is a bill titled “Service Industry Development Act” which aims to relax regulation on the service industry. While the government and the Saenuri Party claim it would create jobs to boost the economy, the NPAD asserts that it would only pave the way for privatization of the nation’s health care system.

Others include a bill titled “Special Act for boosting business” that would simplify regulations for companies looking to pursue business restructuring such as M&As. the NPAD claims that it would make it easier for owners of conglomerates to illegally hand down assets to family members and circumvent inheritance taxes

The 19th National Assembly recorded the lowest ratio of passed bills to ones tabled. According to the Assembly’s legislative archive, as of Wednesday the lawmakers have passed just 31.6 percent, or 5,449 out of 17,222 submitted bills.

(jasonyeo@heraldcorp.com)

#Assembly begins ##extra## session



By Yeo Jun-suk



The National Assembly kicked off its 30-day extraordinary session on Thursday in an effort to pass contentious bills that were shelved from the 100-day regular session due to partisan bickering over bills on business regulations, national security and election rules. 

But the prospect of the bills clearing the Assembly remained uncertain as the rival parties have yet to agree on the parliamentary schedule for legislation, even as the outstanding bills are stuck at relevant committees.

Frustrated over the fate of the outgoing 19th National Assembly that has managed to pass only about one-third of pending bills during its term, Speaker Chung Ui-hwa urged the lawmakers to finish passing the bills before the session ends on Jan 8., 2016.

“This is virtually the last parliamentary session before the 2016 general elections. We must pass the bills and finish our homework. Otherwise, the 19th Assembly will go down in history as the worst parliament,” said Chung.

The speaker reiterated that the lawmakers must pass key legislations such as business-related bills that aim to relax regulations on the service industry and companies looking to purse M&As, and other bills related to labor reform, counterterrorism, and North Korea’s human rights.

Chug also demanded that the rival parties come up with a plan to redraw constituencies for the 2016 general elections. The five-term lawmaker hinted that he would take “extraordinary” measures unless the parties agree on new election rules before Dec. 15 when the prospective candidates begin to file nominations.

The rival parties’ leadership decided to meet this Saturday to hammer out the electoral maps. Though they have tentatively agreed to increase about six seats for those elected from constituencies, the parties remain at odds over the seats reserved for proportional representation.

Despite the speaker’s denouncement that the rival parties are “preoccupied with old-fashioned ideological bias,” the ruling Saenuri Party and the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy continued their bickering over legislative affairs.

While the main opposition party vowed to boycott the session in protest against the Saenuri Party’s attempt to push through the contentious legislations without bipartisan consensus, the ruling party mounted pressure on the opposition citing they are running out of time.

“I deliver my sincere apology to the people for failing to maintain our agreement to pass the bills,” said the Saenuri Party chairman Rep. Kim Moo-sung, referring to the Dec. 2 agreement with NPAD to pass the contentious bills by Dec. 9, the concluding day of the regular session.

“Take this extra session as the last opportunity to revive the nation’s economy and improve the people’s livelihood, we have to make utmost efforts to pass the bills. Although they should be assessed on whether they will serve the interests of the people, the NPAD is against the bills simply because (they oppose) the president,” said Kim.

Over the past few days, President Park has urged the lawmakers to pass the contentious bills that she describes as a crucial to boost the nation’s flagging economy. She denounced the lawmakers saying the Assembly is abandoning its duties as the legislative branch.

Criticizing Park for belittling the lawmakers, the NPAD reiterated that it would oppose the passage of the bills unless the Saenuri Party agrees to resolve contentious issues in the clauses.

“The Assembly is becoming like a Cabinet meeting, a place where people do nothing but listen to Park’s remarks and write that down to survive,” said NPAD whip Rep. Lee Jong-kul. “(Also,) we have reiterated that we are not in a situation to make good laws because we have not fully discussed the problems (of contentious bills),” Lee said.  

Among them is a bill titled “Service Industry Development Act” which aims to relax regulation on the service industry. While the government and the Saenuri Party claim it would create jobs to boost the economy, the NPAD asserts that it would only pave the way for privatization of the nation’s health care system.

Others include a bill titled “Special Act for boosting business” that would simplify regulations for companies looking to pursue business restructuring such as M&As. the NPAD claims that it would make it easier for owners of conglomerates to illegally hand down assets to family members and circumvent inheritance taxes

The 19th National Assembly recorded the lowest ratio of passed bills to ones tabled. According to the Assembly’s legislative archive, as of Wednesday the lawmakers have passed just 31.6 percent, or 5,449 out of 17,222 submitted bills.

By Yeo Jun-suk (jasonyeo@heraldcorp.com)