Productive cooperation

The Duma of the 5th convocation has worked for six months thus having completed its first milestone. The 5th convocation demonstrated a serious renovation of the legislative branch of power. Over the first seven months of work the deputies adopted more than 430 documents, including 45 new bills.

The bills passed can be roughly divided into three blocks: government regulation, Oblast budget amendments, and social legislative initiatives. The bills from the first block are the most debated. They include the law on governor elections and the law on alcohol sale restrictions. This block also includes amendments to the e-government program. From July 1, in accordance with the federal law, the work of federal and municipal services providers was converted to electronic format. Now, applying for a subsidy does not require collecting numerous certificates. Some of the certificates the agencies must procure themselves.

The second block includes amendments to the Oblast budget. After the first six months of 2012, additional revenues totaled 3.8bn rubles, including 2.1bn from the federal budget. Expenditures increased by 5bn rubles. More funds were allocated for the construction of Tomsk City infrastructure, construction of schools in Verkhneketsky and Kozhevnikovsky Districts, bringing teachers’ salaries to the Oblast average levels, resolving the problems of ‘deceived’ investors in participatory construction, etc.

The Duma of the fifth convocation generated new legislative initiatives. The deputies expanded the current law on regional maternity capital. Now its applications include not only purchase of housing, but also renovation of existing houses, connection to gas supply networks, and expensive medical treatment for children. An additional measure of support for low-income families was introduced – families which have their third and subsequent children will receive a 7,000 ruble monthly benefit.

The Duma adopted a new format of work – visiting sessions of the Duma Council. Over the first six months of 2012 the deputies visited Kolpashevsky and Asinovsky Districts. The visiting sessions provide better insight in how the Oblast laws work in real life and what can be done to improve them. As a result of those sessions, amendments to three Oblast laws were introduced.

Summarizing the results of the first half-year milestone of the Duma of the 5th convocation, Duma Speaker Oksana Kozlovskaya noted:

“The first seven months were not easy. You witnessed the evolvement of the new composition of the Duma. One would think, same four parties, but it is now a different Duma. As for productive work, I expected less progress. As I see it, we are building a united hard-working team. And this is our key achievement in the first half-year.”

The Legislative Duma of Tomsk Oblast

Productive cooperation