ID :
166382
Tue, 03/08/2011 - 01:03
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/166382
The shortlink copeid
Brazen-faced lawmakers
EDITORIAL from the Korea Times on March 8)
Financing law revision only serves own interests
The perennially bickering Korean lawmakers seldom agree on anything. As far as voters remember, the few, if any, exceptions are matters related with the legislators??? own welfare, such as raising annual pay and introducing more generous pensions.
Such a rare moment of bipartisanship came once again on Friday when a parliamentary committee passed the revision on the Political Funding Law with near unanimity. In short, however, the revision was wrong in content, and made at the wrong moment and in wrong ways. It must be repealed right away.
The amendment calls for, among other things, allowing donations from business corporations and other organizations unless they are made explicitly in the name of specific groups. So any organizations wanting to donate huge sums of money to exert influence on legislation can ``split??? it into numerous small-sum donations from individuals. Under the proposed law, legislators will also be exempt from punishment for receiving donations related with their own, not others???, legislative activities and such donations are not made by coercion.
To sum up, the lawmakers opened the door for corporate and other organizational lobbying concerning legislation.
Worse yet, the National Assembly panel passed this self-serving bill in just 10 minutes without any discussion during the extraordinary session. The blitzkrieg approval might have been inevitable, as they failed in a similar attempt last year in the face of fierce opposition from voters.
Worst of all, the parliamentary black comedy took place ahead of a verdict on six lawmakers from both governing and opposition parties indicted for receiving donations, ranging from 5 million to 20 million won, from an association of private security guards. If the revision passes the National Assembly???s plenary session, it would automatically acquit the six legislators, two of whom took part in the committee voting.
Much to the relief of reform-minded voters, the revision is unlikely to reach the Assembly???s main hall, due to loud public outcry, which seems to have moved Cheong Wa Dae toward opposing it. Nothing could run more squarely counter to the fair society slogan of President Lee Myung-bak, who has a veto power on legislation.
Lawmakers say their annual salary of 120 million won ($100,000) is too small to serve their constituents adequately. Strictly speaking the legislators??? buying lunches for voters and journalists as well as their expenses for gifts at weddings and funerals are not related with their legislative activities but for their re-elections. These politicians might refute they cannot ignore the reality of Korean politics, but it is none other than lawmakers themselves to advance outdated political culture.
Most regrettable of all, these are the same lawmakers who have sat on urgent bills related with public livelihood or business regulations for months or even years.
Currently, each Korean lawmaker serves about 160,000 constituents, compared with 690,000 and 230,000 voters represented by their U.S. and Japanese counterparts, respectively. It seems to be matter of time before angry voters renew their call for reducing the number of legislators.
Financing law revision only serves own interests
The perennially bickering Korean lawmakers seldom agree on anything. As far as voters remember, the few, if any, exceptions are matters related with the legislators??? own welfare, such as raising annual pay and introducing more generous pensions.
Such a rare moment of bipartisanship came once again on Friday when a parliamentary committee passed the revision on the Political Funding Law with near unanimity. In short, however, the revision was wrong in content, and made at the wrong moment and in wrong ways. It must be repealed right away.
The amendment calls for, among other things, allowing donations from business corporations and other organizations unless they are made explicitly in the name of specific groups. So any organizations wanting to donate huge sums of money to exert influence on legislation can ``split??? it into numerous small-sum donations from individuals. Under the proposed law, legislators will also be exempt from punishment for receiving donations related with their own, not others???, legislative activities and such donations are not made by coercion.
To sum up, the lawmakers opened the door for corporate and other organizational lobbying concerning legislation.
Worse yet, the National Assembly panel passed this self-serving bill in just 10 minutes without any discussion during the extraordinary session. The blitzkrieg approval might have been inevitable, as they failed in a similar attempt last year in the face of fierce opposition from voters.
Worst of all, the parliamentary black comedy took place ahead of a verdict on six lawmakers from both governing and opposition parties indicted for receiving donations, ranging from 5 million to 20 million won, from an association of private security guards. If the revision passes the National Assembly???s plenary session, it would automatically acquit the six legislators, two of whom took part in the committee voting.
Much to the relief of reform-minded voters, the revision is unlikely to reach the Assembly???s main hall, due to loud public outcry, which seems to have moved Cheong Wa Dae toward opposing it. Nothing could run more squarely counter to the fair society slogan of President Lee Myung-bak, who has a veto power on legislation.
Lawmakers say their annual salary of 120 million won ($100,000) is too small to serve their constituents adequately. Strictly speaking the legislators??? buying lunches for voters and journalists as well as their expenses for gifts at weddings and funerals are not related with their legislative activities but for their re-elections. These politicians might refute they cannot ignore the reality of Korean politics, but it is none other than lawmakers themselves to advance outdated political culture.
Most regrettable of all, these are the same lawmakers who have sat on urgent bills related with public livelihood or business regulations for months or even years.
Currently, each Korean lawmaker serves about 160,000 constituents, compared with 690,000 and 230,000 voters represented by their U.S. and Japanese counterparts, respectively. It seems to be matter of time before angry voters renew their call for reducing the number of legislators.
