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 "less controversial" bills designed to support the public
livelihood, in a bid to settle a rancorous partisan dispute that has held hostage
dozens of economic rescue plans.
The parliament chief also ordered the largest opposition party to end its ongoing
sit-in at the parliament's main chamber by the end of the day, warning he will
"stretch his authority to the extreme" to restore order in the legislature.
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 unsettled.
"Dear people and colleagues at the parliament, the year must not pass without
(our) settling the bills designed to relieve burdens on the public," Assembly
Speaker Kim told a press conference Monday. "A plenary session will convene on
the 31st to settle public livelihood-related bills that all parties have agreed
on settling."
"I also ask the opposition party to empty the main chamber by midnight. Do not
force me to take extreme measures."
The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) has been camping out at the Assembly
main conference room as well as the Assembly speaker's office and subcommittee
rooms, demanding nullification of bills it calls "anti-democratic" and "unfair to
the underprivileged." The liberal party claims all disputed bills should be
discussed and deliberated again next year.
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 to hold the vote. About 50 of those bills are expected to be voted on
on Wednesday.
The conservative GNP controls 172 seats in the 299-member unicameral house,
enough to ensure the passage of legislation without the participation of its main
opponent.
The Assembly speaker again urged rival parties to make effort in bridging the
opinion divide.
"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," he said. "Do not ignore the
voices of the people that voted for you."
Of more than 2,600 bills that have been introduced to the legislature since it
convened in May, less than 300 have been voted on so far. Some 300 will be
automatically discarded at the end of 2008.
President Lee Myung-bak's GNP has said it will leave room for more discussions on
the so-called social reform bills which include expanding operations of the
National Intelligence Service and banning street protesters from wearing masks,
in a move to expedite passing bills aimed at boosting the ailing economy.
The liberal DP, however, also demands scrapping of bills on cutting taxes, easing
industrial regulations in metropolitan regions, removing restrictions on
investments by large firms, and allowing cross-media ownership.
The party flatly denounced the Assembly speaker's request.
"We are deeply ashamed at the Assembly speaker for siding with the government and
the ruling party. He has declared a war on the opposition," said DP spokesman Cho
Jeong-sik. "We will not yield to his request."
The ruling GNP did, too, not appear satisfied with the Assembly speaker's
decision and urged him to take "more active" measures.
"Speaker Kim doesn't seem to understand the graveness of the situation," said GNP
spokeswoman Cho Yoon-sun. "What we need now is for him to use his authority to
take steps to passing all the necessary bills by the year's end. We are running
out of time and the people are depending on us."
hayney@yna.co.kr
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