Defence and Infrastructure Funding Debate Delayed 'til Afternoon: Budget Committee
Delay in Discussion of Financial Package by the German Bundestag Committee
grab a coffee, folks! 😒 The Budget Committee's got some 'splainin' to do! They've pushed back their discussion on the defence and infrastructure funding package, originally scheduled for 11:30 AM, until 5:00 PM on Friday. 🕛🕒 The delay's due to ongoing bargains with the Greens, who'll provide the crucial votes for the required constitutional amendments.
The funding package, proposed by the Union and SPD, initially included loosening the debt brake for defence spending and state investments, along with a whopping €500 billion for infrastructure projects. The Bundestag talked it over on Thursday.
Our beloved Greens, who hold the key to a two-thirds majority in both the Bundestag and Bundesrat, are requesting modifications to the draft bills. They're calling for the infrastructure investments to represent additional funds and for more money to go towards climate protection.
On top of it all, the Greens have provided their own defence sector draft bill. It suggests limiting the debt brake exemption to expenditures above 1.5% of GDP, whereas the Union and SPD support an exemption at 1% of GDP.
Keep an eye out for updates, gang! 👀
References:- ntv.de- AFP
Related Trends:- Federal Budget- Infrastructure Investments- Debt Brake- Green Party- Defence Spending- Climate Change
Further Reading:- "Germany's budget: Why the opposition wants a too-large surplus" (Deutsche Welle, 2022): https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-budget-why-the-opposition-wants-a-too-large-surplus/a-60610309- "Green Party Demands More Climate Protection Money in Federal Budget" (The Local, 2022): https://www.thelocal.de/20220406/green-party-demands-more-climate-protection-money-in-federal-budget- "Germany's 2022 federal budget: Key points" (Deutsche Welle, 2022): https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-2022-federal-budget-key-points/a-60842101
- The Budget Committee's deliberations on the defence and infrastructure funding package, initially scheduled for 11:30 AM, have been postponed until 5:00 PM on Friday due to ongoing negotiations with the Greens, who are crucial for the constitutional amendments' passage.
- The Greens, part of the two-thirds majority in both the Bundestag and Bundesrat, are requesting adjustments to the draft bills, including making the infrastructure investments additional funds and allocating more money for climate protection measures.
- The Greens have provided their defence sector draft bill, which proposes limiting the debt brake exemption to expenditures above 1.5% of GDP, unlike the Union and SPD's proposal for an exemption at 1% of GDP.
