NewsWhore
07-13-2007, 03:30 PM
Amidst insults and accusations of political boycotting, the Chamber of Deputies voted on legislation that will effectively change the role of the Dominican Municipal League (LMD), making it an almost unnecessary organization. The LMD is presided by Amable Aristy Castro, who is the presidential candidate of the PRSC. Aristy has been voted senator for La Altagracia on two opportunities and turned down the position to continue to manage the well-funded LMD that channels funds to municipalities nationwide.
The Chamber's vote now removes any control and supervision of municipal funds from the LMD's hands. The bill now assigns the LMD the role of a mere counselor to the municipal governments.
The bill establishes that the municipalities will now receive their funds directly from the National Treasury. The bill sets that municipalities allot 25% to wages, 40% to capital investments, and 31% to internal activities. President Leonel Fernandez still needs to sign the bill for it to be law.
Listin Diario writes that 111 of 126 Deputies voted in favor of the legislation. The vote wasn't accepted quietly. During the session yesterday PRSC member Sergio Cedeno made claims that deputies were bought and said that Acct 30003761-7 was opened at the government-owned BanReservas bank on their behalf. The accusation by Cedeno drew criticisms from the PLD block and was fully denied by PLD spokesman Elias Serrulle.
PRSC spokesman Ramon Rogelio Genao said the law would hurt the political parties. Lila Alburquerque exclaimed that the PLD can "eat" the LMD. Listin Diario reported that PRSC deputies voted in favor of the bill. Marino Collante of the PRSC, told Listin Diario that they voted in favor because they were confused.
During yesterday's voting session, the Chamber also passed new legislation that will reduce the taxes on cigarettes and alcohol, income tax and collection efficiency bill. Alcohol will now pay a 7.5% ad-valorem retail tax, while tobacco products will pay a 20% ITBIS tax. As for income tax, the bill reduces it from 29% to 25% as of 2007. The Chamber sent back to commission the bill that would grant fiscal amnesty to small businesses.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#2)
The Chamber's vote now removes any control and supervision of municipal funds from the LMD's hands. The bill now assigns the LMD the role of a mere counselor to the municipal governments.
The bill establishes that the municipalities will now receive their funds directly from the National Treasury. The bill sets that municipalities allot 25% to wages, 40% to capital investments, and 31% to internal activities. President Leonel Fernandez still needs to sign the bill for it to be law.
Listin Diario writes that 111 of 126 Deputies voted in favor of the legislation. The vote wasn't accepted quietly. During the session yesterday PRSC member Sergio Cedeno made claims that deputies were bought and said that Acct 30003761-7 was opened at the government-owned BanReservas bank on their behalf. The accusation by Cedeno drew criticisms from the PLD block and was fully denied by PLD spokesman Elias Serrulle.
PRSC spokesman Ramon Rogelio Genao said the law would hurt the political parties. Lila Alburquerque exclaimed that the PLD can "eat" the LMD. Listin Diario reported that PRSC deputies voted in favor of the bill. Marino Collante of the PRSC, told Listin Diario that they voted in favor because they were confused.
During yesterday's voting session, the Chamber also passed new legislation that will reduce the taxes on cigarettes and alcohol, income tax and collection efficiency bill. Alcohol will now pay a 7.5% ad-valorem retail tax, while tobacco products will pay a 20% ITBIS tax. As for income tax, the bill reduces it from 29% to 25% as of 2007. The Chamber sent back to commission the bill that would grant fiscal amnesty to small businesses.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#2)