| Of the 1,200 proposed amendments that have been submitted
to a controversial government bill that would replace in-kind social benefits
with cash payments, not more than 30 are expected to be adopted, Deputy
Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said on 22 July, "Parlamentskaya
gazeta" reported on 23 July.
Volodin said the Duma's Budget and Tax Committee has created a working
group to study the 1,200 amendments and it is expected to complete its
work by 31 July.
"Moskovskii komsomolets" on 23 July reported that the pro-Kremlin
United Russia party has submitted 20 amendments to the bill, including
one that would raise the total amount of cash compensation to 190 billion
rubles ($63.3 billion).
United Russia is also proposing that the bill be amended to reinstate
a state-guaranteed minimum wage and state guarantees of education and
housing for orphans. Another amendment would include the victims of illegal
political repression, handicapped children, and children from impoverished
families among those eligible for benefits payments.
The party is also proposing that eligible people be given the choice
of receiving either in-kind benefits or cash payments, although that option
would not be phased in fully until 2006. "Moskovskii komsomolets"
also reported that Federation Council members have submitted about 200
amendments.
RC
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Social
Policies
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