American Expatriate Costa Rica

Projects to contain spending will dominate legislative agenda

Bills to reduce public spending will mark the agenda of Congress in the last ordinary session of this legislature.

The political branches will be based on the initiatives to reduce the expenditure presented by the Executive as part of the fiscal reform and expand them with the purpose of making the cutback in spending more stringent.

For example, Natalia Díaz, from Movimiento Libertario, explained that her group will seek to include regulations for more salary incentives than those proposed by the Executive in its initiative, which are full-time payment, annuities and prohibition.

Karla Prendas, PLN’s chief of staff, also said that tax reform is a priority. She pointed out the need to enter into public expenditure containment projects, a fiscal rule to prevent the State from spending more than its income and reform the pensions of the Judiciary, which is already under discussion in the Legislative Plenary.

PUSC chief William Alvarado insisted they will push for constitutional reform to maintain proportional percentages between spending and revenue.

Javier Cambronero, PAC fraction leader, said they agree to discuss the issue of containing public spending, but insisted on new tax bills.

The heads of the banks will meet Thursday with Finance Minister Helio Fallas and the deputy minister of the Presidency, Luis Paulino Mora, to review progress in the tax reform.

At this regular session, legislators should also discuss and vote on the national budget for 2018.

crhoy.com