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Zionist Union’s Shmuly named most ‘social’ MK

APRIL 6, 2016 20:07

Updated: APRIL 6, 2016 20:06

MK Itzik Shmuly (Zionist Union) topped the “Social Index,” a ranking of lawmakers by the Social Guard, a Knesset watchdog NGO on socioeconomic issues.

The ranking is based on how many times MKs voted for bills the organization deemed to be socioeconomically beneficial or against “anti-social” legislation. The standards are based on a long list of values, much of which are policies that to increase government spending and involvement in social welfare, but also includes increasing transparency and public participation in the democratic process, and guaranteeing equality for all.

Coalition lawmakers have a difficult time ranking on such a list, even if the government had passed policies that fit the Social Guard’s agenda, because they are limited to coalition discipline, such that they may only vote in favor of bills supported by the Ministerial Committee for Legislation and must vote against all others to keep the coalition functioning. Opposition MKs, however, have much more freedom in how they vote, and in many cases are not committed to voting a certain way.

MK Hilik Bar (Zionist Union) came in second on the list, followed by MKs Dov Henin (Joint List) and Michal Rosin. The highest ranking coalition MKs on the list was Merav Ben-Ari (Kulanu), in 57th place.

The lowest-ranking MKs on the list were from the coalition: Culture Minister Miri Regev, Deputy Interior Minister Yaron Mazuz and Deputy Minister for Regional Cooperation Ayoub Kara. The most "social" party overall was Meretz, and Bayit Yehudi ranked lowest among parties.

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