The senators chose not to move on the reduction of the advertising tax from 12 to 6%. Instead, they sent the request that was part of the "Gentlemen’s Agreement" that permitted the passing of the tax package by the Chamber of Deputies to a special commission. As part of the agreement, the government had accepted to reduce the ITBIS tax on advertising to 6% down from the approved 12%, but this modification of the tax law requires approval by the senators. During the discussions, the senators had played with the idea of eliminating the tax overall, but so far the proposals are in limbo and by law advertising is now taxed with 12%. Hoy newspaper says that the attitude of the PRD majority senators is being interpreted as a confrontation between Mejía and the senators. President Mejía says that the Acuerdo de Caballeros reached between former President Joaquin Balaguer, Hatuey de Camps for the PRD and the Presidency should be respected.
