DP to cut on MB-led construction plans; GNP to back Park Geun-hye’s welfare policies





With next year’s general and presidential elections in mind, parties all set out to boost the budget allocation for welfare projects, though their directions and amounts varied.

The main opposition Democratic Party focused on slashing the budgets for construction projects pushed by the Lee Myung-bak government, such as follow-up works on the four-river restoration project and the Jeju naval base construction.

“We will slash 1.5 trillion won ($1.3 billion) from the government’s four-river related projects and 132.7 billion won from the Jeju naval base construction,” said Rep. Kang Gi-jung, the DP negotiator for the parliamentary budget subcommittee.

The DP also sought to cut 400 billion won from the harbor construction project in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, where Rep. Lee Sang-deuk, GNP lawmaker and the president’s elder brother, has constituency.

“The saved amount will be spent on free school meals and college tuition funds, in an aim to alleviate the economic distresses of the low-income bracket,” Kim said.

The ruling Grand National Party, on the other hand, touted the welfare policies envisioned by the party’s presidential hopeful, Rep Park Geun-hye.

The GNP members of the subcommittee also began to raise the government’s 1.5 trillion won welfare budget by up to 2 trillion won, according to floor spokesperson Rep. Hwang Young-cheul.

“In response to the growing needs for welfare measures, we plan to make relevant adjustments within the margin of 3 trillion won,” said Rep. Chang Yoon-seok, the party’s negotiator.

Rep. Gu Sang-chan, a pro-Park member, even claimed that the government should submit a revised budget bill as the parliamentary adjustments are insufficient to meet the current welfare demands, though he was met with backlashes.

Some, however, expressed concerns that the excessive focus on welfare may disturb the minimum amount which should be allocated to national defense and other crucial items.

“The sharp increase of welfare budgets may result in the financial imbalance,” said Rep. Lee Myung-gyu, the GNP’s vice floor spokesperson.

By Bae Hyun-jung
(tellme@heraldcorp.com)