Hirchson delivers threat to cancel roads projects
Haaretz
February 14, 2007
By Sharon Kedmi
Finance Minister Abraham Hirchson sent a veiled threat yesterday to cancel the Israel National Roads Company's development plan if the Transportation Ministry refuses to abide by government decisions.
In a letter to Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz regarding the INRC's NIS 19 billion program, he hinted that instead, projects would be funded on a case-by-case basis.
Hirchson was responding to Mofaz's comments in the Knesset last week that the treasury was holding up his ministry's plans. "That's not the way to build a country," Mofaz stated, complaining that development plans for the north had remained on paper because of bureaucratic obstacles. Accusing the treasury of unacceptably poor management, Mofaz said: "This is about a minister being unable to implement a plan of which he is in charge."
In his letter, Hirchson made it clear that he did not appreciate Mofaz raising these issues in the Knesset Economics Committee and the media instead of discussing the matter directly with him. "Proper internal government administration takes place through professional discussions, not by casting blame indirectly," Hirchson wrote.
"I have directed the budgets director and the accountant general to continue implementing the current government decision and signed agreements," he stated. He then concluded that if the Transportation Ministry did not go along with these decisions, "there will be no avoiding operating according to the manner carried out before the government approved the multi-year plan."
An associate of Mofaz responded: "It's time for the treasury stop dealing in letters and bureaucracy and start understanding that we're dealing here with excessive risk to people's lives. While they are dealing with procedures and throwing up obstacles, Mofaz is determined to move road safety projects ahead."
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/825649.html