NewsWhore
09-15-2010, 03:40 PM
In a highly stressed atmosphere laden with criticism and strong arguments by the PRD bloc, the PLD-majority Chamber of Deputies approved yesterday, after one reading, the legislative proposal that modifies the Budget of Income and the Law on Public Expenditures for this year. The proposal contains the transfer of RD$11.2 billion to cover the electricity subsidy and other expenses. During the session, a request was made to declare the bill "urgent" and give it immediate approval. A total of 92 deputies voted in favor and 63 against, although one more 'yea' vote due to "technical issues" was alleged to have been registered.
No matter, the "yeas" did not get the two-thirds majority that the law requires in these cases, with 155 deputies present. Nonetheless, the president of the Chamber, Abel Martinez, declared the legislation to have been passed, and this produced some bitter discussions between the legislators, to the point that it was rejected and left for a second round during the next session of the legislature.
The Senate has already approved the modification that will transfer RD$11.2 billion from several ministries, except Education, to pay for the 15% wage increase for doctors and health sector employees at the Dominican Social Security Institute (IDSS) and other institutions, and about 70% of which will go to the electricity subsidy and does not involve a budget change.
Nevertheless, with an item of RD$3.94 billion from the sale of the 49% of the shares in the Dominican Petroleum Refinery (Refidomsa) to Venezuela and RD$243.7 million from the aeronautical tax assigned to the Dominican Air Force, the budget will be increased from RD$378.95 billion to RD$382.94 billion.
The PRD deputies had threatened, and yesterday they carried this out, that they would not approve the modification of the budget because they were in disagreement with the removal of resources for ministries such as Public Health, when there are so many fatalities from dengue, to assign the funds to the electricity subsidy.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#5)
No matter, the "yeas" did not get the two-thirds majority that the law requires in these cases, with 155 deputies present. Nonetheless, the president of the Chamber, Abel Martinez, declared the legislation to have been passed, and this produced some bitter discussions between the legislators, to the point that it was rejected and left for a second round during the next session of the legislature.
The Senate has already approved the modification that will transfer RD$11.2 billion from several ministries, except Education, to pay for the 15% wage increase for doctors and health sector employees at the Dominican Social Security Institute (IDSS) and other institutions, and about 70% of which will go to the electricity subsidy and does not involve a budget change.
Nevertheless, with an item of RD$3.94 billion from the sale of the 49% of the shares in the Dominican Petroleum Refinery (Refidomsa) to Venezuela and RD$243.7 million from the aeronautical tax assigned to the Dominican Air Force, the budget will be increased from RD$378.95 billion to RD$382.94 billion.
The PRD deputies had threatened, and yesterday they carried this out, that they would not approve the modification of the budget because they were in disagreement with the removal of resources for ministries such as Public Health, when there are so many fatalities from dengue, to assign the funds to the electricity subsidy.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#5)