The Mejia administration has at least 52 inconditional deputies. A vote was called yesterday for the passing of a bill presented by the Executive Branch that would authorize the government to take on more debt — RD$5.1 billion in domestic bonds. The bill received 52 yes votes from the 118 deputies present (of a total 150 deputies). 66 deputies voted to instead send the bill to a study commission.
Agriculture Minister Eligio Jaquez urged deputies to pass the bill arguing it was of great importance to the farming sector, and that most of the money would be used to pay for purchases of food products made over the years by the government to farmers.