MKs Clash Over Credit for Pension Increase Law
Translated & summarized from Davar by baba
A debate over credit for a law increasing pension benefits for seniors erupted between MK Eti Atiya (Likud) and MK Meirav Cohen (Achva) at a political forum. Atiya claimed her and Haim Katz's efforts led to the law, while Cohen attributed the actual implementation and funding to the Bennett-Lapid government. The law, which raised benefits to 70% of minimum wage, was ultimately passed through a government decision and merged private bills in late 2021, costing 1.5 billion shekels annually.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- MKs Eti Atiya and Meirav Cohen clashed over who deserved credit for a law increasing senior citizen pensions.
- Atiya claimed the law was a Likud initiative, while Cohen stated the Bennett-Lapid government funded and passed it.
- The law raised income support pensions to 70% of the minimum wage.
- The increase was budgeted by the Bennett-Lapid government in late 2021 at an annual cost of 1.5 billion shekels.
- MK Ayman Odeh also proposed a similar bill in the previous Knesset.
- The article suggests bipartisan cooperation is possible on social issues.
A heated debate erupted at a forum for political parties discussing the needs of senior citizens, organized by the "Spring for the Third Age" association, when MK Eti Atiya of the Likud party claimed credit for a law that increased pension benefits for recipients of income support. Atiya asserted that she and Haim Katz, then Minister of Welfare, were responsible for the law, which was passed in the previous Knesset and linked pensions to 70% of the minimum wage. MK Meirav Cohen of the "Achva" party strongly contested this, arguing that the Likud had done nothing for seniors during their previous years in power and that the current government, in which she served as Minister for Social Equality, was responsible for the increase.
The dispute centered on the law to raise the pension for those receiving income support, which was approved in the previous Knesset. Atiya insisted that she and Katz championed the law, which allocated 1.3 billion shekels, and that it was enacted during the Bennett-Lapid government. Cohen countered that the Likud had not provided any additional support for seniors during their four years in power.
Digging into the legislative history, the article notes that the Bennett-Lapid government, sworn in on June 13, 2021, was indeed responsible for budgeting the increase. MK Ayman Odeh of the Joint List had proposed a bill on June 21, 2021, to raise the benefit to 85% of minimum wage. Shortly after, MKs Katz and Atiya submitted a similar bill. In late August 2021, the government decided to raise income support benefits to up to 70% for individuals and 75% for couples, as part of the 2021-2022 state budget, costing 1.5 billion shekels annually. This proposal was included in the "Economic Efficiency Law."
On October 13, 2021, the Ministerial Committee for Legislation supported the private bills from Katz, Atiya, and Odeh, contingent on their agreement to align with the government's proposal. The bills passed their preliminary readings that same day. The Finance Committee later merged the private bills with the government's proposal, which passed its final readings in early November. While Katz and Atiya were indeed the first to submit a bill in the previous Knesset, the implementation was due to the Bennett-Lapid government's decision to fund and legislate the increase. The article concludes that while Atiya's claim for credit is partially justified, it is not exclusive, and highlights the potential for bipartisan cooperation on important social issues affecting Israelis.