Hector Rafael Peguero Mendez, the new president of the Chamber of Deputies, was critical of Dominican press last week, stating that the Chamber is at disadvantage with the Presidency because it does not have the resources that the latter has to pay for advertising or public relations benefiting the press. He considered that the directors of the news media and the journalists have been inconsiderate in dealing with the Congressmen.
Congress is at an all time low in public opinion, and the press have highlighted that congressmen have requested an unlimited exoneration for a vehicle and salary increases that would bring their remuneration to RD$60,000 a month and to RD$120,000 a month for the president of the chamber (the President of the Republic has a salary of RD$90,000 ), while reporting high absenteeism, and not completing or passing several important bills for years, such as the general electricity bill, the monetary and financial code, among others.
Public opinion maintains that corruption within Congress has delayed the passing of several bills, and is also adverse to the absenteeism that affects congressional work, and the low educational, intellectual and professional level of several Congressmen. The Senate has stated it will not approve an increase in salaries as this will only contribute to increasing the poor public image of Congress in general.