By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter
Some lawmakers of the governing Grand National Party (GNP) face internal penalties for their absence from a National Assembly session last Friday, which failed to act on the government-proposed $4 billion supplementary budget bill.
Seven GNP absentees, including Reps. Yoo Ki-june and Lee Ke-jin who belong to the Assembly's Budget and Acounts Committee, will likely be reprimanded, party sources said Monday.
The GNP flexed its muscles late last week to railroad the bill, which the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) opposed.
The move, however, failed as the GNP didn't meet the quorum at the committee.
As a result, taxpayers, particularly working-class families, are expected to pay more for gas and electricity.
Under the proposal, the government planned to provide 1.6 trillion won and 840 billion won in subsidies to the Korea Electric Power Corp. and Korea Gas Corp., respectively, to help them reduce operating losses linked to soaring oil prices.
GNP floor leader Hong Joon-pyo Monday indicated his resignation to take full responsibility for the voting failure and vowed to follow a decision made by party lawmakers who are scheduled to meet today.
The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) boycotted the voting as Chairman Chung Sye-kyun said the supplementary budget proposal must be reviewed from scratch.
``It is necessary to collect more opinion but we are considering remitting the punishment issue to the party's Ethics Committee,'' said Rep. Gong Sung-jin, a member of the GNP's decision-making Supreme Council. ``They failed in their duty, which means they have no intention to serve the people.''
Hong, complaining of the DP's misbehavior of boycotting the vote, said, he would accept the GNP lawmakers' decision on his resignation.
According to party sources, however, GNP leaders have shown a negative opinion toward his resignation.
The governing party had sought to approve the bill through bipartisan agreement before the Chuseok holiday to help President Lee Mung-bak proceed with his reform drive.
The Assembly is expected to be deadlocked for the time being as the GNP's attempt angered opposition parties.