The Chamber of Deputies approved the National Budget for 1998 for a total of RD$38,000 million. The Reformistas, who had opposed the passage of the bill because the government had not included several of their requests – a chapter for RD$500 million to pay arrears with Balaguer government contractors and other chapters for social entities – did not vote in favor of the bill, but did not abandon the congressional session, not interrupting the quorum. Some 67 congressmen who were present voted in favor of the ’96 bill.
