Broadcasting Three Laws, Yellow Envelope Act, and Commercial Act Tabled at Plenary Session... People Power Party Set for Filibuster
Broadcasting Three Laws and Other Contentious Bills Tabled at National Assembly Plenary Session on the 4th
Non-Contentious Bills to Be Reviewed and Passed First, Without Opposition Filibuster
The Democratic Party of Korea, led by its members, has brought the Broadcasting Three Laws, the Yellow Envelope Act (Amendments to the Trade Union Act 2 and 3), and the Commercial Act Amendment to the National Assembly plenary session. As the People Power Party has announced a filibuster (unlimited debate) if these contentious bills are tabled, a confrontation between the ruling and opposition parties is expected.
On August 4, at the plenary session held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, a motion to change the legislative schedule?so that the five contentious bills, for which the People Power Party had announced a filibuster, would be discussed after reviewing 15 other bills?was passed with 173 votes in favor and 92 against out of 265 lawmakers present. The bills subject to the announced filibuster are the Broadcasting Three Laws (amendments to the Broadcasting Act, the Foundation for Broadcast Culture Act, and the Korea Educational Broadcasting System Act), the Yellow Envelope Act, and the Commercial Act Amendment.
Accordingly, the National Assembly plans to first process 15 bills, including the amendments to the Local Education Finance Grant Act and the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which the People Power Party did not announce a filibuster against, and then table the Broadcasting Three Laws, the Yellow Envelope Act, and the Commercial Act Amendment in that order at the plenary session.
National Assembly Speaker Woo Wonshik stated, "The proposal is to set aside the bills scheduled for a filibuster and first deal with the non-contentious bills," and added, "I would also like to mention that there was consultation between the negotiation groups of the ruling and opposition parties regarding the order of the contentious bills."
Before the vote, Chief Secretary Moon explained the proposal, saying, "This motion is a measure to prevent the People Power Party's unreasonable obstruction and legislative interference regarding five livelihood reform bills, including the Broadcasting Three Laws, the Trade Union Act (Yellow Envelope Act), and the Commercial Act." Chief Secretary Moon emphasized, "With little time left before the end of the session, it is essential to process the bills that barely passed the standing committee and the Legislation and Judiciary Committee during the July session. Therefore, changing the legislative schedule is inevitable."
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Earlier, the People Power Party had announced that further discussion was needed regarding the Broadcasting Three Laws, the Yellow Envelope Act, and the Commercial Act Amendment, and warned that if these contentious bills were tabled at the plenary session, they would proceed with a filibuster.
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