Congressional leaders have asked President Hipolito Mejia to send the appropriate legislation to Congress to obtain the required approval of the Monetary Board measures announced earlier this week. Andres Bautista, the president of the Senate, and Jose Tomas Perez, the spokesman for the PLD party, asked the President to be as transparent as possible regarding the 10-percent surcharge on imports. For his part, President Mejia was emphatic that the surcharge would be effected ?no matter what?. ?I don?t care what they think?I made [the decision] and that is that,? said Mejia, visibly bothered by the reporter?s questions concerning the claim by the National Council of Private Business (CONEP) that the measures announced in Sunday?s speech were in violation of the Pact for Stability and Economic Development signed with the business sector late last year. When asked about the proposed meeting with the representatives of the CONEP, Mejia stated plainly, ?There will be no meeting?it won?t happen?. According to reporters Ezequiel Abi? Lopez and Roberto Valenzuela of El Caribe, there will be no negotiations, either, as inferred by the President?s warnings. Speaking to reporters, Mejia said, ?No one can pressure me ? whether her name is Elenita (in reference to Elena Viyella, head of the CONEP) or anyone. There will be no meeting with them.? Taking one reporter by the arm, he furthermore said, ?I don?t have to consult with anyone in order to take these steps; we are in a period of dialogue. But, when you have a situation, you take the necessary measures or you get out of the Presidential Palace.?