여야 추경합의... 통신비 선별지원, 중학교 돌봄비 15만원<br /><br />Our starting point tonight: Last minute deal by the nation's rival parties on the 6-point-7 billion U.S. dollar fourth extra budget of the year.<br />The spendings have been reconfigured, however.<br />You'll get 17 dollars off your mobile phone bill only if you're in a certain age group, but childcare support expanded to include middle school students.<br />Our Lee Kyung-eun leads our coverage tonight.<br />The National Assembly has reached a last minute agreement to approve the government's fourth extra budget,... aimed at providing COVID-19 relief programs before the country's Chuseok thanksgiving holiday.<br />The ruling Democratic Party and main opposition People Power Party announced the finalized the 6-point-7 billion U.S. dollar budget plan on Tuesday, after both made concessions.<br />"We thank the People Power Party for making efforts to swiftly pass the plan. The government will execute the projects immediately so that people can receive the assistance before Chuseok."<br />The eight-point-scheme includes,... the hotly debated plan to hand out 17 US dollars,..in mobile phone bill subsidies.<br />But the scope has been reduced from "everyone over 13 years old" to "those from 16 to 34 years old, and over 65 years old."<br />The money left over from that change,… will partially be used to provide free influenza vaccinations for more than one million disabled people and those on low incomes.<br />Some of the budget will also be assigned to stocking COVID-19 vaccines for roughly 20 percent of the country's population.<br />The budget will also cover financial assistance for a greater number of taxi drivers,... and families with young children, including middle schoolers.<br />And late night entertainment businesses that have been hit hard by strengthened social distancing guidelines, will receive 17-hundred dollars.<br />Some of the budget will also be used to support medical staff,... and children in low-income brackets.<br />When officially passed in a plenary session later on Tuesday, this will be the first time there has been a fourth extra budget in 59 years.<br />It will also set a record for being the fastest budget to be passed, taking just 11 days.<br />"It will also be the first time that lawmakers have agreed on a bill and passed it on the same day.<br />Both parties say this swift process was possible because of bipartisan cooperation, with lawmakers putting people’s lives before politics.<br />Lee Kyung-eun, Arirang News."<br />
