Last night the Senate approved a first reading on the 2% tax to be levied on all imports. During the reading, the Senate modified the tax bill to extend its application until 31 December 2004. The senators also voted to legalize the increase of the exit tax from US$10 to US$20. A second reading, however, must take place for the bill to pass to the Chamber of Deputies.
The bill states that if the circumstances that brought about the taxes disappear, the President may dismantle the measures. The Listin Diario reports that at the same time, the Senate approved a motion to request the members of the Monetary Board and the economic team of the government to appear before the Senate to explain the latest economic measures adopted by the Central Bank. The 5% tax on exports was in turn sent to the Finance Committee.
While approval was given, the reading was not passed without some controversy. Members of the PRD were against the measure, saying it would only result in another burden for the people to bear. Still other members of the majority party called the unwilling legislators “stupid” and “crazy old men”, among other insults.