Rasi: Finance Minister Should also Prepare Pro-growth Measures

(TA3,'V politike', 17 August) In addition to proposal for further consolidation, Finance Minister Ladislav Kamenický (Smer-SD) should also prepare pro-growth measures, House Chair Richard Rasi (Voice-SD) said on TA3's discussion programme 'V politike' (In Politics) on Sunday, adding that the government could gain more money from the gambling tax, or from banks and retail chains. "We talked about the gambling tax, we unambiguously view this tax as an area from which huge millions of euros can be earned, we also talked about taxation of banks and retail chains, and we also talked about, and this is a strong issue that will be discussed a lot, that we can't imagine increasing spending on armament at the moment," said Rasi. His opponent on the show, opposition MP Branislav Groehling (Freedom and Solidarity/SaS) responded that just like the first consolidation, the next one will be paid by people, too. For example, banks can increase their fees, which will significantly affect the people of Slovakia. He stressed that savings should mainly be made on the part of the state in terms of slimming down the public administration or scrapping two useless ministries, particularly the Tourism and Sport Ministry, as well as Investment, Regional Development and Informatisation Ministry. Rasi objected that the number of civil servants was reduced by 5 percent already last year, and that the requirement regarding saving of expenditures applies to all ministries also in the future. Concerning the state budget draft for next year, Rasi expects it to be approved at the October parliamentary session at the soonest. The debate on proposals to dismiss several ministers should be opened at the September session, he added. ko