The bi-cameral commission studying the National Budget and Expense Bill will meet again today, to evaluate the data received from government technicians. Diario Libre reports that the Congressional spokesmen for the PRD, the PRSC and the PRSD have stated again that they will not vote in favor of the budget as long as the government continues to apply the exchange rate commission. Meanwhile, government officials are trying to persuade President Fernandez to work with last year’s budget, which would allow a surplus of approximately RD$22 billion which the presidency could use at its discretion. Other officials do not support this idea, which they believe could lead to negative consequences with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The President has publicly favored the passing of the Budget Bill in Congress.