MK Yisrael Hasson, incoming head of the Knesset Economic Affairs Committee, decries the increasing amount of legislation in the Knesset.
Hasson, of the "Israel Our Home" party, is set to replace MK Gilad Erdan of the Likud as head of the committee, in accordance with an agreement made between the two opposition parties at the beginning of the current Knesset in early 2006. Hasson, Deputy Director of the General Security Services (Shabak) from 1997-1999, will assume the position in early August.
Speaking at a press conference he held on Sunday morning, Hasson said, "The situation in which we legislate ourselves to death must come to an end." The committee under his leadership, he declared, will concentrate on advancing three matters: Small businesses, infrastructures, and Negev/Gaililee growth.
The Knesset Economic Affairs Committee deals with business, industry, agriculture, transportation, roads, development, Jewish property in enemy countries, consumer affairs, public works, and the like.
How Much Time?
Tomorrow (Monday), the committee is to hold an important meeting regarding proposed legislation having to do with recorded announcements and waiting time for callers to public bodies. The legislation, proposed by MKs Dov Hanin, Muhammed Barakeh and Hana Sweid, states that callers must be informed approximately how long they will have to wait before being answered, and how many callers are ahead of them. "A waiting time of unknown duration creates distrust between citizens and public service providers," the bill's explanatory introduction states, "thus deterring citizens from calling again."