Senate recommendations for additional spending may cost ZUS zl.100 million

The Senate has completed its debate on the budget for this year, and sent it back to the Sejm with a few minor changes. The Senate's amendments include setting aside an additional zl.100 million for the expansion of the Warsaw metro, zl.30 million for increasing Internet access in schools, and zl.25 million in additional health care subsidies. Since, under Polish law, parliament is not empowered to raise the budget deficit, the Senate had to cut spending in other areas. Among those to lose out are the Social In surance Administration (ZUS), which had its budget allocation cut by zl.100 million. Deputy Finance Minister Halina Wasilewska-Trenkner has hinted the government is likely to approve the changes. (Prawo i Gospodarka, pp. 1, 9; Zycie, p. 1) M.K.