Riigikogu deliberated amendments related to supplementary budget
The Riigikogu deliberated at the second reading the Bill on Amendments to Acts relating to the Second Supplementary Budget of the Year 2009 Act (511 SE), initiated by the Government, the purpose of which is to increase the revenue and to reduce the expenditure of the state budget. For that purpose, the excise duty rate of cigarettes is increased by 5 per cent and, the excise duty rate of different motor fuels, by 10 cent. There is also a plan to apply measures which are to help improve the receipts of excise duty. Also, for the second reading, the Finance Committee initiated a motion to amend which increases environmental charges. At the same time, according to the Bill, study loans will no longer be compensated for in the future. The compensation relating to the study loan will be available for those who will have submitted an application as at 1 July 2009. Chairman of the Finance Committee Taavi Rõivas gave an overview of the discussions and the decisions taken in the Committee. He also answered questions. Thereafter, a debate was held. Due to the end of the working hours of the sitting, the second reading of the Bill was adjourned. The reading will be resumed at tomorrow’s sitting.