The Senate approved in first reading the proposed bill to create a pension system for Dominican sports stars. The bill was approved without amendments, and now goes to study and vetting by the Senate Finance and Sports Committees before coming up for a second reading vote. Originally proposed to Congress by President Fern?ndez in January, the bill would create a system of state pensions for Dominican sports stars "who have given the Dominican Republic a good name." Stars that have been elected to the Dominican Sports Hall of Fame would receive RD$6,000 monthly from the state; those no yet in the Hall of Fame but which have brought honor to the Dominican Republic, would receive RD$3,000 per month. Sports Minister Juan Marichal, himself a Hall of Fame name, proposed the bill to the President after numerous news stories over the past year about how many Hall of Fame members and other well-regarded sports stars of the past live now in dire economic straits. In the Senate the bill’s sponsor is Senator Jes?s V?squez Mart?nez.
