Listín Diario newspaper complains today that deputies in the lower chamber of the National House are paid a monthly salary of RD$57,800 (US$3470) plus a meal allowance of RD$10,000 (US$600) a month and many of them don’t even attend sessions. The paper points out that they are supposed to work only three days a week starting at 9 a.m. But it says that sessions nearly always begin after 12 noon. And it notes, “in spite of the benefits and responsibilities they have, many don’t attend sessions, some of them for over a year, and they still collect their pay. Meanwhile, others arrive late or leave before the session is over and get their associates to vote in their place.” Altogether, the 149 deputies cost the state more than RD$13.5 million monthly.
