V

TAX FREE PALM GREASE

Despite the fact that "influencing voting in public affairs" is a punishable crime according to Norwegian law, it is a common phenomenon in Norway. LO (*) greases AP (**), Rimi-Hagen (***) greases everyone. In Oslo a year ago, Høyre(****) paid for Venstres(*****) votes. Politics is business, so why not give your benefactorers a deduction of tax as a "thank you"?

Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik (KrF) fought for tax deduction for gifts given to voluntary organizations and got it. Now his government wants this to apply to contributions made to political parties as well. According to sources within the governmental system, the Government will suggest that contributions made to political parties should be tax-deductable.

 The proposition is to be put forward to the Norwegian parliament some time in spring, as a part of a new party law. The law is also supposed to force parties to publicize both monetary gifts and other contributions they receive.

 The tax exemption will only apply to private individuals. According to VGs sources, the Government wants to make parties equal to humanitarian organizations like Red Cross and Kirkens Nødhjelp (the Church's Emergency aid)

 Today, the largest tax-deductible amount is 12 000 pr. year. If the proposition is passed, rich aunts and uncles can give 12 000 kr. pr. year to the parties and get 3 360 kr. back from the public purse.

 The more money Bondevik hands out, the less is left for the orthopaedic unit at Akershus central hospital. This doesn’t' seem to concern our prime minister much. Shouldn't it?

*     LandsOrganisasjonen - National workersunion

**    Arbeiderpartiet - Labour party

***   Rimi - grocery store chain

****  Høyre – conservative-liberal party

***** Venstre liberal party