Assembly speaker vows to enforce vote on pending bills

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By Shin Hae-in
SEOUL, Dec. 29 (Yonhap) -- National Assembly Speaker Kim Hyong-o vowed Monday to
put to a vote by Wednesday critical bills designed to support the public
livelihood, putting his foot down on a partisan dispute that has held hostage
dozens of economic rescue plans.
With just three days left in the year, rival parties have been locking horns over
several issues, including ratification of a free trade deal with the United
States, leaving hundreds of economy-related bills idled.
The largest opposition Democratic Party (DP) has occupied the parliament's main
chamber since Friday and is determined to block the passage of bills it calls
"anti-democratic" and "unfair to the underprivileged."
"Dear people and colleagues at the parliament, the year must not pass without
settling the bills designed to relieve the burden on the public," Assembly
Speaker Kim told a press conference Monday. "A plenary session will convene on
the 31st to settle emergent bills that all parties have agreed on settling."
The ruling Grand National Party (GNP) on Sunday set aside 85 "key bills" that
must be passed before the end of the year and requested that the speaker use his
authority in opening a final vote. The conservative GNP controls 172 seats in the
299-member unicameral house, enough to legislate without the participation of its
main opponent.
The parliament chief also ordered the opposition party to empty the main chamber
by the end of the day, warning he will "stretch his authority to the extreme" to
restore order in the legislature.
"I ask the opposition party to leave the room by midnight. Do not force me to
take extreme measures," he said.
Members of the liberal DP have been taking turns staging all-night sit-ins at the
main conference room as well as the Assembly speaker's office and subcommittee
rooms, demanding nullification of government-led market oriented measures. They
claim all disputed bills should be discussed and deliberated again next year.
"I still hold fast to hopes that party leaders will manage to reach a compromise
before I am forced to push ahead my final decision," Kim said. "Do not ignore the
voices of the people that voted for you."
hayney@yna.co.kr
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