[NYTr] Bolivia Govt to Approve Budget Despite Snags

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

Prensa Latina, Havana
http://www.plenglish.com

Bolivia Govt to Approve Budget Despite Snags

La Paz, Dec 23 (Prensa Latina) The Bolivian government warned the
Senate that it would approve the national budget for 2008, through a
supreme decree, if the upper chamber, dominated by the opposition,
delays its approval.

Bolivian Vice president Alvaro Garcia Linera exhorted the opposition
senators to abstain from making changes that affect payment of a life
pension to the elderly.

The also president of the National Congress called to make viable what
is called Dignity Rent, which is sustainable, thanks to redistribution
of the Direct Tax on Hydrocarbons.

Garcia Linera called the legislators to not hit the hopes of the
Bolivian elderly, and regretted the questioning "per se" by the
conservative parties.

He asserted that the opposition lacks arguments to change the budget,
but assumes an observational attitude, just to "tease," and overturn
the Dignity Rent.

He considered rational the budget proposal, because it guarantees the
pension for the elderly, and keeps the income for regions, which has
reached more popular sectors this time.

However, Garcia Linera announced that the Executive's project would
gain the strength of a law after December 28, if the Senate insisted on
hindering it approval.

He denied that the project included the resources to spread the new
State Political Constitution, approved on December 9 in the mining city
of Oruro.

ef iom cmv PL-2