Labor to vote against state budget
Political crisis brewing? Labor decides to vote against 2009 state budget, will intensify efforts to convince other parties to also object; Defense Minister Barak: We should not be asked to make choice between security, welfare issues
Political crisis brewing? The Labor faction has decided to vote against the 2009 state budget, as introduced by Finance Minister Ronnie Bar-On.
Labor officials said they will intensify their efforts to reach understandings with Shas and the Pensioners' Party in the coming days so that they too object to the budget.
The faction adopted the recommendation brought forth by MK Avishay Bravermn and will demand that the government expenditures framework will be boosted by 2.5% rather than 1.7%.
Earlier Monday, Defense Minister Ehud Barak told party activists in Tel Aviv that '"the discussion on the budget is one of the most important issues; it reflects our constraints and challenges. The passing of the budget is a necessary condition in the activation of the operational arm. Despite the difficulties, it's wrong to present a dilemma between welfare and security."
Barak added that "two years after the Second Lebanon War and with the threats that surround us, Iran, Syria, Hizbullah, Hamas – Israel cannot afford defense budget cuts."
Labor Party Secretary General MK Eitan Cabel said at a party meeting in Tel Aviv that "the discussion regarding forming a new government or going to elections will revolve around the 2009 budget".
Agriculture Minister Shalom Simhon and MK Avishay Braverman said that the discussion about the 2009 budget should be postponed until after the Kadima party primaries, to ensure that no outside considerations are present at the budget deliberations.
Welfare or Security?
The issue of the budget also occupied the minds of the different ministers during a cabinet meeting on Sunday. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said at the start of the meeting that "I will not accept factional loyalties when it comes to budget deliberations, it's unacceptable. The ministers have a collective responsibility over the nation's budget. I will use all of my strength to push the budget through, because this government wants to continue to exist despite recent political events".The ministers are expected to deliberate for several hours over the national budget. The Finance Ministry is to present two alternative drafts to the ministers: one draft that favors security matters and a second draft that favors welfare issues. Finance Minister Ronnie Bar-On supports the welfare draft, while the Labor Party and Shas Party are expected to oppose it.
The prime minister emphasized that in the last few years the government has given high priority to education, welfare and security.
"A government that cannot manage the budget in the time allotted, is not a responsible government and is actually an embezzling one", said Olmert in the discussion.
