 ▲ 국민의힘 예결위원들은 2일 국회소통관에서 기자회견을 열고, 정부가 제출한 추가경정예산안(이하 추경)을 ‘민생을 빙자한 선거용 돈 풀기 추경’으로 규정하며 강력히 비판하고 있다. © 이제항 선임기자 |
브레이크뉴스 이제항 선임기=국민의힘 예결위원들은 2일 국회소통관에서 기자회견을 열고, 정부가 제출한 추가경정예산안(이하 추경)을 ‘민생을 빙자한 선거용 돈 풀기 추경’으로 규정하며 강력히 비판했다.
이날 회견에는 국민의힘 간사인 박형수 의원을 비롯한 예결위원들이 대거 참석해 중동 사태로 인한 고유가·고물가 속에서 고통받는 서민들의 현실을 외면한 정부의 무책임한 재정 운용을 질타했다.
위원 일동은 “국민의힘이 이번 추경 심사 일정에 합의한 것은 오직 고유가 여파로 생존 위기에 처한 국민을 돕기 위함이었다”고 전제하면서도, “정부의 세부 내용을 들여다본 결과, 이는 국민의 고통을 덜어주는 '처방전'이 아니라 선거를 앞둔 '표 구걸용 가짜약'임이 드러났다”고 성토했다.
고유가 대응 명분 뒤에 숨은 ‘정치적 셈법’
이번 추경안은 최근 중동 정세 불안에 따른 글로벌 유가 급등과 국내 물가 불안 해소를 목적으로 마련됐다. 정부가 내세운 공식 방향은 ▲고유가 대응 ▲민생 안정 ▲산업피해 최소화 및 공급망 안정이다.
국민의힘은 GDP 대비 국가채무가 50%를 돌파하고 관리재정수지 적자가 107.6조 원에 달하는 엄중한 재정 상황임에도 불구하고, 민생의 시급성을 고려해 ‘조건부 동의’ 형태로 심사에 임했다. 하지만 실제 공개된 추경안은 정부의 설명과 정반대였다는 것이 국민의힘의 분석이다. 진단은 '고유가'인데 처방은 유가와 무관한 '현금 살포'와 '사업 끼워넣기'로 점철돼 있다는 지적이다.
국민의힘, “6·3 지방선거 겨냥한 ‘엉뚱황당’ 예산의 실체”
국민의힘은 정부 추경안의 실체가 고유가 대책을 빙자한 ‘선심성 예산’이라고 목소리를 높였다.
특히 4조 8252억 원 규모의 ‘고유가 피해지원금’은 화물차·택시 운전자 등 직접 피해 계층에 대한 집중 지원 대신, 소득과 지역 기준으로 10만 원에서 60만 원을 차등 살포하는 방식으로 설계됐다면서, 이는 고유가 극복과의 인과관계가 희박한 전형적인 '표심 잡기용' 예산이라는 비판이다.
반면, 석유 가격 인하를 위한 예산은 예비비 4.2조 원에 불과하며, 이와 대조적으로 신재생에너지(0.4조 원), R&D(0.2조 원), 문화예술(0.3조 원) 등 단기간에 성과를 낼 수 없는 예산들이 대거 포함됐다고 설명했다. 특히 지난 예산 심의에서 부실함이 증명돼 삭감됐던 모태펀드와 국세체납관리단 사업 등을 슬그머니 되살린 것은 국회의 예산 심의권을 무력화하는 행태라고 일갈했다.
또한, 중국산 태양광 셀에 혜택이 돌아가는 신재생에너지 금융지원(2,205억 원), 시급성이 떨어지는 제조 AI 솔루션 개발(800억 원) 등 긴급 추경의 취지에 어긋나는 사업들이 다수 포함됐음을 지적했다.
“정책 실패 떠넘기기 중단하고 ‘국민 생존 추경’으로 전환하라”
국민의힘은 이번 추경안의 문제점을 세 가지로 요약하며 전면 수정을 요구했다.
정책 실패의 혈세 땜질: 정부가 중동 사태 이전부터 고환율 문제를 방치해 유가 상승의 충격을 키웠음에도, 그 고통을 국민에게 전가하며 혈세를 선거용 사업에 쏟아붓고 있다.
물가 불안 부추기는 자해적 추경: 시중에 막대한 현금을 살포하는 방식은 가뜩이나 불안한 물가를 자극해 서민 생활고를 더욱 심화시킬 것이다. 실집행 불가능한 전시행정: 연내 집행이 불가능한 K-콘텐츠 펀드나 성과 검증이 전무한 농어촌 기본소득 시범사업 등은 예산 규모를 부풀리기 위한 생색내기 수단에 불과하다.
이에 국민의힘은 정부 제출 사업 중 ‘20대 부적절 사업’을 과감히 삭감하고, 이를 재원으로 *‘국민 생존 7대 지원사업’을 추진하겠다고 밝혔다.
국민의힘 제안 ‘국민 생존 7대 주요 사업’
① 유류세 인하 확대: 현행 15%에서 30%로 확대하여 유가 부담 직접 경감
② 생계형 운송업자 지원: 화물·택시·택배 종사자 73.3만 명에게 인당 60만 원 유류보조금 지급
③ 소상공인 직접 지원: 푸드트럭 등 생계형 차주 50만 명에게 인당 60만 원 보조금 지급
④ 자영업자 물류비 절감: 배달·포장용기 구매 비용 반값 지원(인당 20만 원)
⑤ 교통비 반값: K-PASS 6개월 한시적 50% 인하로 출퇴근 부담 완화
⑥ 청년 주거 지원: 청년 월세 지원금을 현행 20만 원에서 30만 원으로 인상
⑦ 청년 내 집 마련: 20만 가구 대상 특별대출 이차보전(3,000억 원)으로 주거 사다리 복원
“가짜약 대신 진짜 민생을 처방하겠습니다”
국민의힘 예결위원 일동은 “선거를 위해 국민 혈세를 뿌리는 행태는 다음 세대에게 빚더미를 물려주는 범죄와 다름없다”고 경고했다.
이어 “이번 심사 과정에서 '선거용 가짜 추경'의 거품을 확실히 걷어내고, 화물차 운전자와 소상공인 등 벼랑 끝에 선 국민에게 실질적 도움이 되는 ‘진짜 민생 생존 추경’을 만드는 데 모든 역량을 집중하겠다”고 강조했다.
마지막으로 정부를 향해 “기만적인 현금 살포 계획을 즉각 철회하고, 국민의힘이 제안한 민생 대책을 전향적으로 수용하라”고 강력히 촉구했다.
*아래는 위 기사를 '구글 번역'으로 번역한 영문 기사의 [전문]입니다. '구글번역'은 이해도 높이기를 위해 노력하고 있습니다. 영문 번역에 오류가 있을 수 있음을 전제로 합니다.<*The following is [the full text] of the English article translated by 'Google Translate'. 'Google Translate' is working hard to improve understanding. It is assumed that there may be errors in the English translation>
People Power Party: “Supplementary budget for ‘election money-printing’ using 20 trillion won of taxpayers’ money... scrap it immediately!”
- “Cash handouts ignoring people’s livelihoods, shifting the blame for government policy failures onto the people”
- “Completely cut 20 projects that included solar power and R&D… completely reorganize into 7 survival-oriented projects”
- “Patching up the failure to defend the exchange rate with a supplementary budget… strongly blocking the ‘election supplementary budget’ that deceives the people”
Members of the People Power Party’s Budget and Accounts Committee held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Center on the 2nd, strongly criticizing the supplementary budget bill submitted by the government, characterizing it as a “supplementary budget for election money-printing disguised as people’s livelihoods.”
Break News Senior Reporter Lee Je-hang = Members of the People Power Party’s Budget and Accounts Committee held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Center on the 2nd, strongly criticizing the supplementary budget bill submitted by the government, characterizing it as a “supplementary budget for election money-printing disguised as people’s livelihoods.” At the press conference held on this day, a large number of members of the Budget and Accounts Committee, including Representative Park Hyung-soo, the People Power Party's chief secretary, attended to criticize the government's irresponsible fiscal management for ignoring the reality of ordinary citizens suffering amidst high oil prices and inflation caused by the Middle East crisis.
While the committee members stated, "The People Power Party agreed to the schedule for reviewing this supplementary budget solely to help citizens facing a survival crisis due to the aftermath of high oil prices," they lamented, "Upon examining the government's details, it was revealed that this is not a 'prescription' to alleviate the people's suffering, but rather a 'fake medicine' intended to beg for votes ahead of the election."
The 'Political Calculations' Hidden Behind the Justification of Responding to High Oil Prices
This supplementary budget bill was prepared with the aim of resolving the instability of domestic prices and the surge in global oil prices caused by the recent instability in the Middle East. The official direction put forward by the government is ▲ responding to high oil prices ▲ stabilizing people's livelihoods ▲ minimizing industrial damage and stabilizing the supply chain. Despite the grave fiscal situation where national debt has surpassed 50% of GDP and the managed fiscal deficit has reached 107.6 trillion won, the People Power Party proceeded with the review in the form of "conditional approval," considering the urgency of people's livelihoods. However, the People Power Party's analysis is that the actual supplementary budget bill revealed was the exact opposite of the government's explanation. They point out that while the diagnosis is "high oil prices," the prescription is riddled with "cash handouts" and "bundling in projects" unrelated to oil prices.
People Power Party: "The Reality of a 'Random and Absurd' Budget Targeting the June 3 Local Elections"
The People Power Party raised its voice, asserting that the true nature of the government's supplementary budget bill is a "pork barrel budget" disguised as measures to address high oil prices. In particular, the 4.8252 trillion won "high oil price damage relief fund" is criticized for being designed to distribute differential amounts ranging from 100,000 to 600,000 won based on income and region, rather than providing concentrated support to directly affected groups such as truck and taxi drivers. Critics argue that this is a typical "vote-grabbing" budget with a weak causal relationship to overcoming high oil prices.
On the other hand, it was explained that the budget for lowering oil prices amounts to a mere 4.2 trillion won in reserve funds, while a large portion of the budget—including funds for renewable energy (0.4 trillion won), R&D (0.2 trillion won), and culture and arts (0.3 trillion won)—is included in contrast to those that cannot yield results in the short term. In particular, the quiet reinstatement of projects such as the Fund of Funds and the National Tax Arrears Management Agency, which were cut during the previous budget review due to proven inadequacy, was condemned as an act that neutralizes the National Assembly's authority to deliberate on the budget. Furthermore, they pointed out that the supplementary budget includes numerous projects that run counter to the purpose of the emergency supplementary budget, such as renewable energy financial support (220.5 billion won) that benefits Chinese-made solar cells, and the development of manufacturing AI solutions (80 billion won) that lacks urgency.
“Stop shifting blame for policy failures and switch to a ‘Supplemental Budget for National Survival’”
The People Power Party summarized the problems with this supplementary budget bill into three points and demanded a complete revision.
Patching up taxpayer money for policy failures: Despite the government amplifying the impact of rising oil prices by neglecting the high exchange rate issue even before the Middle East crisis, it is shifting that pain onto the people and pouring taxpayer money into election-related projects.
A self-destructive supplementary budget that fuels price instability: The method of scattering massive amounts of cash into the market will further exacerbate already unstable prices and deepen the hardships faced by ordinary citizens. Showcase administration impossible to execute: Projects such as the K-Content Fund, which cannot be implemented within the year, and the Rural Basic Income pilot project, which lacks any verified results, are merely token gestures intended to inflate the budget size.
In response, the People Power Party announced that it would drastically cut the "20 most inappropriate projects" among those submitted by the government and use the funds to pursue the *"7 Major Support Projects for National Survival."
[People Power Party Proposal: ‘7 Major Projects for National Survival’]
① Expanded Fuel Tax Reduction: Directly alleviate the burden of fuel prices by increasing the rate from the current 15% to 30%
② Support for Livelihood Transport Operators: Provide a fuel subsidy of 600,000 won per person to 733,000 freight, taxi, and delivery workers
③ Direct Support for Small Business Owners: Provide a subsidy of 600,000 won per person to 500,000 livelihood vehicle owners, such as food truck drivers
④ Reduction of Logistics Costs for the Self-Employed: Provide half-price support for the purchase of delivery and packaging containers (200,000 won per person)
⑤ Half-price Transportation: Easing the burden of commuting by temporarily reducing K-PASS fees by 50% for 6 months
⑥ Housing Support for Youth: Increase monthly rent subsidies for youth from the current 200,000 won to 300,000 won
⑦ Homeownership for Youth: Restore the housing ladder through interest subsidies for special loans (300 billion won) for 200,000 households
“Real Livelihood Instead of Fake Medicine” “We Will Prescribe”
All members of the People Power Party’s Budget and Accounts Committee warned, “The act of squandering taxpayers’ money for the sake of elections is no different from a crime that leaves a mountain of debt to the next generation.” They further emphasized, “During this review process, we will thoroughly remove the bubble of the ‘fake supplementary budget for the election’ and concentrate all our capabilities on creating a ‘real supplementary budget for people’s livelihood survival’ that provides tangible help to citizens on the brink, such as truck drivers and small business owners.”
Finally, they strongly urged the government to “immediately withdraw the deceptive cash handout plan and proactively accept the livelihood measures proposed by the People Power Party.”
