NewsWhore
01-11-2008, 02:10 PM
Amidst challenges of impropriety and fraudulent NGOs, President Leonel Fernandez signed the 2008 Budget and Law for Public Spending, officially making it law. The total budget is for RD$300 billion.
Senate president Reinaldo Pared Perez (PLD-National District) challenged Chamber of Deputies president Julio Cesar Valentin's (PLD-National District) claims that funds for ruling party senators' and deputies' covert non-governmental organizations were included in the 2008 National Budget. Valentin and PRSC party deputy Radhames Castro claimed that several senators, including Cristina Lizardo, Charlie Mariotti, Euclides Sanchez and Tommy Galan, are beneficiaries of millions in allotments for NGOs. Cristina Lizardo, quoted in Listin Diario, denied having an NGO and Mariotti called the claims lies.
Perez, quoted in Hoy, lamented the fact that 'peers' in the Chamber, beginning with Valentin, would make such claims. Perez says that he had agreed to meet with Valentin to form a bi-chamber commission to study the budget, but that Valentin chose to expedite the passing of the budget.
Perez continued bashing Valentin by exclaiming that the Chamber president had forgotten that Perez was the PLD secretary general and said that the deputies, with their attitudes, were tainting the honor of the National Congress, where the PLD is majority for the first time. Perez even went as far as saying that he'd be willing to leave the Senate if the Chamber proved there were improprieties with the handling of NGOs. Euclides Sanchez, senator for La Vega, said he would also leave if his name could be linked to an NGO.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#1)
Senate president Reinaldo Pared Perez (PLD-National District) challenged Chamber of Deputies president Julio Cesar Valentin's (PLD-National District) claims that funds for ruling party senators' and deputies' covert non-governmental organizations were included in the 2008 National Budget. Valentin and PRSC party deputy Radhames Castro claimed that several senators, including Cristina Lizardo, Charlie Mariotti, Euclides Sanchez and Tommy Galan, are beneficiaries of millions in allotments for NGOs. Cristina Lizardo, quoted in Listin Diario, denied having an NGO and Mariotti called the claims lies.
Perez, quoted in Hoy, lamented the fact that 'peers' in the Chamber, beginning with Valentin, would make such claims. Perez says that he had agreed to meet with Valentin to form a bi-chamber commission to study the budget, but that Valentin chose to expedite the passing of the budget.
Perez continued bashing Valentin by exclaiming that the Chamber president had forgotten that Perez was the PLD secretary general and said that the deputies, with their attitudes, were tainting the honor of the National Congress, where the PLD is majority for the first time. Perez even went as far as saying that he'd be willing to leave the Senate if the Chamber proved there were improprieties with the handling of NGOs. Euclides Sanchez, senator for La Vega, said he would also leave if his name could be linked to an NGO.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#1)