House set for big rows over Bt2-tn bill

[webfact]

SPECIAL REPORT
House set for big rows over Bt2-tn bill
Somroutai Sapsomboon
The Nation

All sides rally their forces for debate

BANGKOK: -- THE IMPORTANCE of the House deliberations in the second reading of the Bt2-trillion borrowing bill for development of transport infrastructure is reflected in the postponement of the mobile Cabinet meeting scheduled in Lop Buri.

The Cabinet meeting was deferred so that the government could devote all its resources to defending the bill.

While the government whip has set the debate for only today and tomorrow, the opposition says that timeframe would be impossible.

The atmosphere of the debate might be similar to that of the joint meeting considering constitutional amendment that took 12 days to finish deliberation of the Article 13 bill.

The Bt2-trillion borrowing bill has 19 Articles, while 143 MPs have submitted motions to alter the law draft.

The proposed changes range from very small issues or sarcastic messages to serious issues like the measures to prevent corruption.

MP Boonyod Sooktinthai proposed that the name of the bill be changed to "The Bill to Authorise the Finance Ministry to Borrow Bt2 trillion for the Development of National Transportation Infrastructure in All Aspects up to 50 per cent of Gross Domestic Product."

MP Chuti Krairiksh proposed an addition to the bill's name: "…topping up the [national] Debt Burden for 50 Years."

MP Jua Rachasi, who is a committee member, proposed "…according to necessity and justice" be added to the bill's title.

MP Watchara Petthong added: "…without Thinking of the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy."

MP Sathit Pitutecha wants to add "…for Excessive Use Without Monetary or Financial Discipline", to the bill's name.

Many Democrat MPs proposed an addition to the definition in Article 3 of the Bill that, "… the borrowing must be used according to the national strategies on transport-infrastructure, it must be according to the national anti-corruption laws."

Boonyod said the bill should state that the authorities, according to this law, "must maintain monetary and financial discipline".

He also added a clause in the bill saying the borrowed money must be used "for sustainable development of the country in every aspect, while the implementation is transparent and according to good governance".

Patchara proposed that a national referendum be held.

Many Democrat MPs, including chief adviser Chuan Leekpai, proposed the definition of "projects" identified in the bill as the projects according to the strategies listed in the law's appendix.

The MPs also proposed the roles of private organisations recruited to take part in the fight against corruption. They also proposed agreements by related organisations to work transparently and to declare information. They also require declarations of contract details, including procurement plans, scope of work, name lists and the cost bid by each contender, the winning contractors as well as the contract details.

If the agencies involved or contractors refuse to give such information, the private organisations working as anti-corruption groups should be allowed to report and propose contract voidance.

Besides, the MPs also proposed the change of the person in charge of the law from the finance minister to the prime minister.

Furthermore, some MPs proposed changes to the money, from small amounts, and to changing 13-digit to 12-digit amounts. Some changed the period of the loans.

The opposition has announced it would do everything to oppose this law. If Parliament passes this law, it would move to petition the Constitutional Court to consider whether the law was constitutional.

The borrowing bill, which the government expects to be something to boast about and to attract votes in future election campaigns for years to come, is still up in the air.


-- The Nation 2013-09-19

[Tatsujin]

MP Chuti Krairiksh: "The Bill to Authorise the Finance Ministry to Borrow Bt2 trillion for . . . topping up the [national] Debt Burden for 50 Years"

Classic. Glad to see they do have a sense of humor after all lol

[Baerboxer]

Row all they want - bottom line is PTP have enough votes to push this through. They don't want any transparency, checks, accountability because they want to use the money as they see fit. All part of the boss's plans and required to "finance" the road to power.

This massive debt is unlikely to benefit Thailand in any long term way. There is no real strategy or project definition, no detailed budgets and financial management plans, just vague schemes that can be easily shown to "run over budget" and therefore it will be no surprise the money all disappears, Without proper planning they'll be lots of poorly delivered and unfinished projects, quality issues and little if anything to show for a massive debt burden,

When it all goes "pop" - the economy may be ruined but the clan will be massively more richer and therefore even more powerful.

[steelepulse]

>>while 143 MPs have submitted motions to alter the law draft.

These aren't the 143 MP's not getting their fair share of the graft pie is it?

[Neilly]

MP Sathit Pitutecha wants to add "…for Excessive Use Without Monetary or Financial Discipline", to the bill's name.

Bloody hell...an MP beat me to it LOL...sarcasm is alive and kicking in parliament

[timewilltell]

This bill is an abomination that will benefit the poor not one jot. It will impoverish the nation and is simply a massive measure to facilitate corruption. I truly hope someone can stop this abomination. How can Thais standby ad allow this to happen?

[lee b]

What is happening to all this money tourists are bringing in?

[Gonzo the Face]

To me the last thing Ms. Yingluck had going for her was that she, for her age, was a reasonably attractive woman...... The dress she wore to the meeting with the bankers made her look like an old matronly frump.

This bill needs to be put down...... too much money will end up in the wrong pockets ,,,, we know it and they know it.... but now all they need to do is dream up an excuse to sell it to the public along with the crap about how much the public will benefit by filling the politicans , in the right positions , pockets. Rich get richer and the poor get poorer ......same as how good the rice scheme was for the rice farmer..... more bull crap by the inner circle.

Edited September 19, 2013 by Gonzo the Face

[Lite Beer]

Bill name unchanged

BANGKOK: -- Despite the Opposition's attempt to the rename the borrowing bill, 263 MPs on Thursday voted to maintain the old name, against 103 opposing votes.

Three MPs abstained from voting.

The Democrats proposed several names for the Bt2 trillion borrowing bill.

For example, Boonyod Sooktinthai proposed that the name of the bill be changed to The Bill to Authorise the Finance Ministry to Borrow Bt2 trillion for the Development of National Transportation Infrastructure "in All Aspects up to 50 per cent of Gross Domestic Product."

MP Chuti Krairiksh proposed an addition to the bill’s name: "…topping up the [national] Debt Burden for 50 Years."

MP Jua Rachasi, who is a committee member, proposed "…according to necessity and justice" be added to the bill’s title.

MP Watchara Petthong added: "…without Thinking of the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy."

MP Sathit Pitutecha wants to add "…for Excessive Use Without Monetary or Financial Discipline", to the bill’s name

-- The Nation 2013-09-19

[MrSlatersParrot]

Conveniently forgotten by the democrats was abhisit's borrowing of 1.4 trillion baht for projects.

What oversight was there on their borrowings?

Approved by his cabinet it just got nodded through with what protests?

Anyway most of these "independent organizations referred to are just loaded with pad etc.

They're there for political reasons. They were appointed. There to attack the redshirts. They are NOT impartial. That's why the dems want them to have oversight.

How about setting up some real impartial oversight then.

[Siripon]

Approximately half of the projects proposed in this bill have had no feasibility studies, public hearings, or environmental assessments.

Ludicrous.