The Executive Branch has requested that the Chamber of Deputies hold on to the passing of the Petroleum Bill, in Congress since October 1999. The bill would automatically index domestic fuel prices to international prices, fixing surcharges levied on local sales. President Mejía had originally said he would await the passing of the bill to increase fuel prices. Instead, he went ahead issued a decree over the past weekend with the new increases. The increases already in effect are slightly higher than those authorized by the bill. The government now wants to adjust the bill to reflect the present reality. Nevertheless, PLD-La Romana senator, Enrique Martínez rejected the changing of the bill known as Ley Tributaria de Combustibles Fósiles y Derivados del Petróleo. "If the reforms are those that were recently announced by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce then without doubt that the political forces will oppose these. We oppose these because fundamentally they go in detriment of the poor," he said. The surcharge on fuel sales is used to pay the foreign debt, to subsidize propane gas sales, and to fund the 4% budget contribution made to political parties so these can carry out their political campaigns.
