Inspection on Public Funds Management Is Agreed

The ruling and the opposition parties held a meeting of floor leaders and agreed to have a parliamentary inspection of the public funds management, but the method and the date will be discussed later.

The two floor leaders, Reps. Lee Sang-Soo of New Millennium Democratic Party (NMDP) and Lee Jae-Oh of Grand Nation Party (GNP) met in the office of the chairperson of House Steering Committee, and reached a general agreement on the parliamentary inspection, but the date shall be decided after they observe the procedure of the prosecution`s investigation on the suspicion that the owner of insolvent companies diverted their properties abroad.

The ruling and the opposition parties consented that more discussions and consultations are required on the range of budget adjustment for next year, and set the dead line on 20th.

And also they agreed to pass the major pending bills before the end of the year, including 3 finance related bills, such as Sound Finance bill, Personnel Hearings bill, Privilege of person of national merit bill, Division of the finance of the National Health Insurance Corporation bill, and a special measure to secure the budget of the NHIC. If these bills fail to come up with an agreement at the related standing committees, both parties will launch special committee composed of 4 people, in which floor leaders and the leaders of the standing committees of the ruling and the opposition parties participate.

Moreover, they agreed to establish an official rank of the Secretary General of The Human Rights Committee at the level of a Parliamentary Vice Minister.

Kim Jeong-Hun jnghn@donga.com