First Reading of the Bill to Amend the Income Tax Act (103 SE)
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 3rd sitting, plenary session
Date: 2024-01-17 17:15
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 9
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 5m
AI Summaries: 9/9 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
Agenda item number 5 concerned the first reading of Draft Act 103, amending the Income Tax Act, initiated by Riigikogu members Helle-Moonika Helme and Varro Vooglaid. The central aim of the draft act was to lower the income tax rate—which is currently 20% but is planned to be raised to 22%—to 19.2% instead. The initiator, Helle-Moonika Helme, justified the proposal by stating that low tax rates are the foundation of a functioning and growing economy, emphasizing that reducing taxes is the best way to ensure people have more money in hand.
During the debate, a question was posed regarding the necessity and practical impact of the draft act on the populace, to which Helme replied that the matter represented a confrontation between two different economic concepts—whether tax increases or tax reductions lead to greater prosperity for the people. However, the lead committee, the Finance Committee, submitted a proposal to reject the draft act at the first reading, which the Riigikogu supported in the subsequent vote. The draft act was dropped from the proceedings.
Decisions Made 2
The Finance Committee recommended rejecting Bill 103 at the first reading.
The Riigikogu voted in favor of the leading committee's proposal and rejected the draft act on the first reading (45 votes in favor, 19 against). The bill was consequently dropped from the proceedings.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was Helle-Moonika Helme, the initiator of the draft legislation. She presented the substance of the bill and responded to the only question posed, defending her position, which advocates for lowering the tax burden to stimulate the economy. Her stance represented right-wing/conservative economic policy, contrasting sharply with the tax hikes planned by the government.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Agenda Item No. 5 addresses the first reading of Draft Act No. 103, which proposes amendments to the Income Tax Act and was initiated by Helle-Moonika Helme and Varro Vooglaid. The presentation will be delivered by Riigikogu Member Helle-Moonika Helme.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme introduced Bill 103, which amends the income tax rate (previously 20%, now 22%), and emphasized that low tax rates are the foundation of the economy.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Toomas Kivimägi said that you have at least one question, and asked Lauri Laats to present it.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats asks what an income tax decrease of 0.8 percentage points—from 22% to 19.2% (starting in 2025)—would mean for people, and whether such a change is necessary at all.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme says that there are two worldview-based concepts regarding the economy: the current government favors prioritizing tax hikes, but she argues that lowering taxes would genuinely put more money into people’s hands.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
He/She thanks the audience, states that there are no further questions, and, on behalf of the responsible committee, requests that the presentation by Annely Akkermann, Chairman of the Finance Committee, now commence.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The Finance Committee debated the bill during the same sitting and decided to recommend its rejection.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
He declares the debate open, then closes it, and announces that the lead committee's proposal regarding Bill 103 is rejected on its first reading, and calls his colleagues to a vote.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The Riigikogu decided that the proposal received 45 votes in favor, 19 against, and 0 abstentions; Bill 103 was rejected during the first reading and is dropped from the proceedings.