Budget bill sails through first reading
The National Legislative Assembly unanimously passed the first reading of the 2007 budget bill late Wednesday night.
The bill was passed at 10:55 pm with 141 votes. None NLA members voted against the bill.The NLA set up a 35-member panel to vet the bill. The panel includes seven representatives of the government. Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont took to the floor to thank the NLA at 10:50 for accepting the bill in principle before the vote was called. The seven government representatives on the vetting panel are Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Pridiyathorn Devakula, Sommai Phasi, Orawan Thammo, Suparat Kawatkul, Wutthiphan Wichairat, Banthoon Supphakhawanuch and Duangsamorn Worarit. The 28 other members of the budget bill vetting panel are: 1 Chen Wipatworawong 2 Gen Ongkorn Thongprasom 3 Gen Weerapol Waranon 4 Sommai Dabphet 5 Pol Gen Prateep Tanprasert 6 Surapol Chinachitr 7 Gen Preecha Rojanasen 8 Preecha Watcharaphai 9 Sompoj Kanchanaporn 10 Akapol Sorasuchart 11 Pinij Charusombat 12 Wissanu Krea-ngarm 13 Ampol Jindawattana 14 Lt Gen Banthern Poonkham 15 Manee Chaithiranuwatsiri 16 Assawin Khongsiri 17 Wiriya Namsiripongphan 18 Gen Somjet Boonthanom 19 Pachara Yutithamdamrong 20 Santi Wilasakdanon 21 Praphan Khoonmee 22 Phaisarn Phuetmongkol 23 Sangsit Piriyarangsan 24 Khamnoon Sitthisamarn 25 Walat Chawapong 26 Somchai Sakulsurarat 27 Wanchai Sirichana 28 Surin Pitsuwan. The vetting panel would spend seven days to scrutinize the bill, starting from Thursday. NLA speaker closed the meeting at 11 pm after the NLA spent nine hours to deliberate the first reading of the budget bill. The Nation
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