Debate For the Eastern Economic Bill Continues with Revisions
For the past two days, the bill, called the Eastern Economic Development Bill introduced to the Chamber of Councillors has been up to heavy debate between all the political parties a part of it. Both the Conservative Reform Party (CRP) and the Socialist Union Party (SUP) have both illustrated that no part of the bill should be implemented at all. The opposition of the bill had even been seen in various news stations like the ultra-conservative and nationalistic Palico News, who called the bill a " power move from the Civil Popus**ts." While the Social Democratic and Progressive Alliance Party (PAP) appearing to be willing to negotiate the passage of the Eastern Development Bill with some revision and additions. When first introduced, the bill introduced by Councilor Aubert from National Congress contained the following provision:
- Foreign Companies will be given favorable loans with low-interest rates for the remained of the year of 2020 if they decided to open a branch in any part of the Eastern territories of Leagio.
- A total of 4 billion Sulias will be used by Leagioan Common (Federal) Government to expand the rail and road infrastructure in the Eastern Territories
- An agency will be developed to stir economic business to the Eastern section of the country.
- The Leagioan Stock Exchange in Tulion will be opened to members of the European Union, who be granted access to invest into it.
When these provisions were brought to the general public, the opinions were all over and mixed. According to a survey finished just an hour ago, only 45 % of Leagioans were in favor for the bill while 25% were against it and the rest were undecided. The Bill does indeed come at crucial time as the country is still going on under the effects of the economic crash in April were 20% of Leagioans lost their jobs within the span of a week and compelled the country to officially join the European Union just a week afterward; which helped to improve the conditions that the nation was facing from the crash, but as Councilor Aubert explained in an interview last night: "additional economic measures need to be taken to ensure the economic health of the Commonwealth is assured."
Aubert's fellow Councillors from the Civil Populist Party were in favor and the Social Democrats, as well as the Progressives, would support it as long as it had provisions and revisions made into the bill. One of them was the extension of the freshwater pipeline to be included in the use of the 4 billion Sulias. The Line does go into the Eastern Territories but it is only prominent within the capital cities of said territories and not other parts. After much discussion with his fellow Civil Populists within the Chamber, Councilor Aubert was willing to agree to that.
The Progressives wanted the rail-lines to be widened in the East to match the gauge of the West because the East uses a smaller track width when compared to its western counterpart. Aubert and the Civil Populists are still debating the topic as we speak as it would require a whole series of rail-line track to upgrade it and would be more costly. However, the writer imagines that there will be some sort of a compromise being made as both parties could benefit from this. If passed, the bill will be sent to the senate and then to the President for approval. The deadline to vote on the bill has been set to be on May 19th, 2020 in Chamber of Councilors.
Written by Kevin Witman, a political writer from the DLN.