Parliament will cost taxpayers more in 2008

The State Budget will apportion to the Parliament 70.67 million lei in expenses for 2008. The expenditure estimate was approved Friday, December 14, by the legislature. The largest part of the money – 35.4 million lei – will go to pay the MPs and the personnel of the Parliament’s apparatus for their work. Almost 20 million lei will be used to purchase goods and services. The Parliament earmarked 2 million lei for official trips and nearly one million for repairs. Several MPs, including unaffiliated Vladimir Braga, voiced objections to the proposed expenditure estimate, saying that it reserves funds for purchases of goods and services for parliamentary factions, and not a penny for independent MPs. The Parliament’s expenditure estimate for the next year is by about 12% larger than this year’s.