Senators want to raise their basic salaries from RD$125,000 to RD$175,000, according to Senate president Reinaldo Pared Perez. Hoy writes that the senators receive a basic wage of RD$125,000 per month, representation for RD$50,000, RD$25,000 in per diems, accommodation for RD$25,000 and a RD$3,500 per diem per work session. <\/p>\n
Hoy reports that when representation expenses are added, per diems, accommodation and other perks, plus wages paid to staff of the senators the total comes closer to RD$2.3 million a month, or RD$27.5 million a year per individual. This includes the additional “barrilito” or slush fund that ranges from RD$450,000 to RD$1 million and is used at each senator’s discretion. There are 32 senators. All senators, with the exception of Amable Aristy Castro of the PRSC, belong to the ruling PLD party. <\/p>\n
The argument for the increase is that the legislators’ wages are low compared to other government officials. Another justification is that the senators make less than the deputies. “The increase is necessary because the deputies cannot make more than the senators,” said Senator Wilton Guerrero (PLD-Peravia) when interviewed on 16 August. <\/p>\n
Diario Libre reports that since March 2008, deputies receive a basic wage of RD$175,000 and incentives that increases their wages to RD$342,568 a month. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Senators want to raise their basic salaries from RD$125,000 to RD$175,000, according to Senate president Reinaldo Pared Perez. Hoy writes that the senators receive a basic wage of RD$125,000 per month, representation for RD$50,000, RD$25,000 in per diems, accommodation for RD$25,000 and a RD$3,500 per diem per work session. Hoy reports that when representation expenses … <\/p>\n