Deputy Radhames Castro of the Popular Christian Party (PPC) has proposed a bill to augment the salaries of the National Congress deputies to the 1997 equivalent salary in dollars. While hard to believe, El Caribe confirmed that this deputy is looking for a 114% salary increase, based on comparisons with other countries, including Haiti. Deputy Castro feels that he and his colleagues should receive salaries of US$3,500, or RD$122,000, per month. Castro told reporters that many other government officials receive higher salaries and “do not carry the responsibilities” of the deputies. El Caribe points out that the deputies enjoy a series of privileges, such as the right to import two vehicles without paying taxes, a per diem of RD$1,500 for each daily session of the Chamber of Deputies, RD$700 for each committee meeting, RD$10,000 per month for “social obligations” and RD$10,000 per month for personal expenses. They also have drivers for their cars and are allowed to carry weapons, including machineguns. Finally, each deputy is allotted funding from the National Budget for at least one NGO.