Kahlon: Lobby groups will cry foul over budget

The finance minister called on government ministers to support what he termed a “correct and just budget for narrowing gaps.”

“In the coming days, you’ll hear very strong interest groups whining and complaining how they have been harmed and robbed – these groups have never been touched,” Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon said Tuesday at the beginning of the first socioeconomic cabinet meeting on the state budget.

“We’re going to do justice. We want to narrow gaps as much as possible,” he added. “I call on my fellow ministers and MKs to support this budget, which is a correct and just budget. I expect my fellow ministers and MKs, and of course the prime minister, to fully back this budget, and not to give in to pressures from lobbyists and interested parties.”

The socioeconomic cabinet is scheduled to hold two meetings today and tomorrow to discuss the reforms proposed by the Finance Ministry in the framework of the Economic Arrangements Bill attached to the 2017-18 budget. Following approval by the socioeconomic cabinet, the budget bill will be submitted for approval by the full cabinet at a meeting scheduled for Thursday.

Kahlon went on to say, “This budget continues to reflect the socioeconomic change spearheaded by the Finance Ministry and sponsored by the government. The extent of changes and reforms we are leading today is unprecedented. We’re cutting taxes by billions of shekels for both the middle class and small and medium-sized companies, so that they can grow. This budget will make the economy grow and increase the budget for health, education, welfare, and the other civilian ministries by many billions of shekels. I think it’s still not enough, but we’ll continue.”