Govt at odds with Senate over loan bill

       A legal battle is brewing between the two houses of parliament that could hold up the government's efforts to borrow 400 billion baht to pay for its economic stimulus schemes.
       The Senate has demanded that it be allowed to scrutinise a bill on the loans,but the government insists the Senate only has to be informed about the bill.
       A majority of senators yesterday voted to support a special committee's recommendation that the Senate be allowed to vet the bill.
       The government wanted the Senate to be informed about the bill but did not ask for it to be vetted.
       The Senate plans to ask the Constitution Court to rule on whether the bill would be constitutional if the government does not give it to the upper house for scrutiny or to change some details.
       Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij yesterday said the government had consulted the Council of State as to whether the Senate could vet the bill and make changes. The council ruled the Senate could not do so because it would be a violation of Article 171 of the constitution.
       If the Senate insisted on approaching the Constitution Court, the government would lodge its own complaint with the court against the authority of the Senate,Mr Korn said.
       If the Constitution Court blocks parliament's approval of the bill, the government will be unable to access the 400 billion baht in loans that it needs to stimulate the economy.
       Mr Korn said the government really needed the bill to be passed into law to provide funding for the "Thailand: Investing from Strength to Strength" stimulus scheme and for investment in the private sector.
       He insisted the government would spend the 400 billion baht with transparency and in the best interest of the public. He expected the funds to be disbursed early next year.