MKs did not come, Gafni angry: I do not approve cuts

This is perhaps his last term as chairman of the Finance Committee, but until it ends - MK Moshe Gafni is definitely not going to make it very easy for the government.


This morning a discussion was signed which was supposed to approve the transverse cuts in government offices for 2012, in a decision not to decide.


For what? As a punishment that only one MK came to the discussion... Gafni himself.

The discussion was supposed to approve a cut of no less than 740 million shekels from the budgets of government ministries, and another 45 billion shekels from different sections of the various offices for future purchases. Actually, the reduction has already been approved by the government, in the discussion on July 30, and a clear goal: financing expenses to build facility against infiltrators, preparing home front command in case of emergency and financing decisions and legislations enacted over the last year.

"I will not approve such a cut on the eve of elections myself. If more members of the Knesset participate we will discuss the cuts, now I will not raise this debate," Gafni spoke to himself and the protocol: "If the government thinks it's a necessity and it's important to keep a balanced state budget then they should recruit more MK's and I will hold a further discussion next week" - and rejected the cuts approval to a later date.

More time passed before two MKs came in, both from the opposition - Avishai Braverman from 'Avodah' and Shlomo Molla from 'Hatnua', but this composition did not satisfy the chairman.


Likud's response was swift and surprising in its intensity.

"The Finance Committee hearing was set after it was known that members of the Likud cannot participate in it", commented chairman of the coalition and Likud faction chairman MK Zeev Elkin.

Elkin added: "MK Zion Pinyan is sitting shiva, I'm participating today at a Sderot convention which was determined a long time ago, already yesterday Committee Chairman Gafni concluded with the government to postpone the vote until next week, so I'm surprised MK Gafni is trying to create controversy and questions, without giving full information to the public."

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!