AMMAN -- A group of MPs on Monday submitted a twofold plan to the government to increase revenues and reduce expenditures, amid parliamentary dissatisfaction over a planned electricity hike.
The effort is led by MP Mustafa Hamarneh (Madaba, 1st District), who briefed the Lower House on the main ideas in the initiative.
"The initiative does not require any amendments to current legislation," Hamarneh told deputies.
The plan came amid general discontent with the draft budget law, with some MPs saying they will vote against it.
Deputy Rula Hroub gave 15 reasons why she will vote "nay" on the bill, describing it as "unconstitutional" and based on estimates and data from last year.
Hamarneh said his blueprint is based on two main pillars: firstly, measures to halt a "waste of assets", and secondly, ways to increase revenues
He suggested halting the use of SUVs by government officials, of which 11,000 are currently operational.
Hamarneh also urged the government to work on stopping those who "steal electricity" from the grid, saying that it would "save up to JD96 million per year".
Under measures to increase revenues, the deputy said the government must conclude all unsolved taxation cases, whether already in court or not, forecasting that would increase government income by JD1.7 billion.
He also called for measures to combat tax evasion, noting that the figure has reached JD800 million.
Meanwhile, Deputy Motaz Abu Rumman held a press conference on Monday to speak about the government plan to increase the prices of electricity.
According to Abu Rumman, if the deputies endorse the draft budget law it would mean "their implicit approval for increasing the prices of electricity", because the budget was prepared on the assumption that electricity rates will rise.
Some 112 deputies have so far commented on the draft budget law, and the rest are expected to take the podium during Tuesday's session.
The Lower House will vote on the draft law after the government responds to the MPs' comments.
© Jordan Times 2013
