Economy Commission approves 2013 State Budget Bill

The State Budget Bill was approved by the relevant parliamentary commission, i.e. the Commission on Economy, Budget and Finances. Although the Socialist and Communist members on the Commission did not support it, the Alliance members managed to pass it by a majority of votes, reports Info-Prim Neo. Deputy Minister of Finance Maria Caraus revealed that a decrease in the budgets for education and medicine is projected. The budget for education will change after the higher education institutions will switch to self-management starting next year. The budget for medicine is being decreased due to some projects that will be finalized this year. The State Budget Bill stipulates an economic growth of 5% and a 5% rate of inflation. The economy's average salary will be 3,950 lei. The 2013 National Public Budget (State Budget and Local Budgets, State Social Insurance Budget, Mandatory Health Insurance Funds) stipulates revenues of 37 billion lei, and spending of 38 billion lei, with a growth of over 7%. The resulting deficit is 1.136 billion lei. Socialists and Communists did not agree with the bill, saying that some numbers are exaggerated. They believe that, in a few months, the ruling Alliance will be forced amend the State Budget for at least 600-800 million lei.