It is scandalous. On Monday, 26 October 2021, Alicia Ortega presented an investigative report on how Dominican senators spend the welfare funds they receive in addition to their high wages (RD$579,000 to RD$1,079,000 a month). The senators also benefit from premium health and life insurance and pension plans, and get perks such as unlimited tax-free import of two vehicles per term. The senators also get RD$700,000 extra in December and another RD$500,000 bonus for Mother’s Day in May. And the senators receive RD$3,500 for attending the work sessions, among other benefits.
In addition, the 32 senators share from a RD$300 million a year “barrilito” fund. Three senators have rejected benefiting from this fund – Antonio Taveras (PRM-Santo Domingo), Faride Raful (PRM-Santo Domingo), and Eduardo Estrella (DxC-Santiago).
Add to this the “barrilito” fund. Ortega found out that the spending of the almost RD$300 million a year “barrilito” fund goes to beauty contests, bariatric surgeries, expensive wines, fine dining, advertising, purchases from their own companies, make payments on their debts and assistance to constituents that the investigation indicates was paid to a third party.
The legislators have said that if their tax exemptions are removed, these should also be removed from business, churches, and other top government officers. They also say they would accept an increase in wages in exchange for the removing of the perks.
23 senators presented a proposal for the elimination of the exemptions and extra funding in exchange for an increase in wages and that the tax exemptions also be removed from others in government and the private sector.
See the report:
El Informe con Alicia Ortega
Diario Libre
Diario Libre
Diario Libre
26 October 2021