The Transnistrian region is planning a 25% cut to its public spending in the first 6 months of next year, the news agency Novi Region reported. The members of the supreme soviet’s education committee criticized the planned cut, recommending the region's legislative body to vote the draft budget down unless it undergoes significant amendment. They also called the projected 8% annual inflation rate unrealistic. The committee members also criticized the proposal to remove the notion of “socially protected spending”, which they think will impact on pensioners and people on low incomes.