MKs Haim Oron (Meretz) and Shelly Yachimovich (Labor) Monday called for a halt to lifetime car-related benefits for former Knesset speakers.

Knesset director general Avi Balashnikov suggested this week that the Knesset restrict the benefits former Knesset speakers receive to maintain offices to five years but continue to pay their car expenses for life.

Car leasing expenses run about NIS 60,000 annually per person, while reimbursing expenses on personally owned cars costs much less. Because four of the six former speakers lease cars, these expenses run NIS 260,000 per year.

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Oron asserted one rule should apply to former Knesset speakers, presidents and prime ministers. Prime ministers receive car benefits for five years while presidents receive them for seven years. He said "there's no justification" to maintaining such an inconsistent policy. "It's a shame the Knesset finds ways to distribute favors to former Knesset speakers."

Yachimovich deemed Balashnikov's proposal ridiculous, wasteful, and discriminatory. She said there was no reason for the lifetime benefit especially after perks were taken away from former Prime Ministers Ehud Barak and Benjamin Netanyahu.