Former President Hipolito Mejia and the economic commission of the opposition PRD are recommending that the government cut spending by RD$79.4 billion for next year, which is RD$20 billion more than proposed by the Economic and Social Commission. The economists say that if the government applies austerity measures there is no need to introduce new taxes or increase the current tax rates. The PRD proposes reducing government spending from RD$469 billion to RD$390 billion. Current spending would be reduced from RD$369 to RD$310 billion, and capital investments from RD$100 billion to RD$80 billion, as reported in Diario Libre.