O Federal Senate You may soon vote on a project with a high fiscal impact for the Union. PEC (Proposed Amendment to the Constitution) 14 of 2021, which deals with pensions for health agents, could cost at least R$28 billion for the Union’s coffers and should be included on the plenary agenda in the coming weeks.
The value was cited by Alcolumbre, who said he received this estimate from the Ministry of Social Security. In a note, the ministry details an increase in spending of R$3 billion per year, but does not specify the deadline for absorbing these costs.
In a speech during last Wednesday’s session (17), the president of the Upper House, senator Davi Alcolumbre (União-AP)said he will call “senator by senator” to measure the voting temperature of the proposal in the coming days.
The decision to put the PEC to a vote is the exclusive responsibility of the president. Voting on the project would be a way for Alcolumbre to “relieve” itself of the responsibility of holding projects with strong popular appeal.
“I received a document from the National Confederation of Municipalities, informing the Presidency of the Federal Senate that the impact of this matter could be R$69 billion. The Ministry of Social Security of our country, Brazil, said that the deficit in the general regime and in its own regimes will be around R$28 billion, in addition to an increase in its spending by R$24 billion over the next ten years”, said Alcolumbre.
by fellow senators to deliberate on issues relating to the increase in minimum salaries and career regulation.
Alcolumbre’s discomfort is justified, according to him, because they are proposals with almost unanimous support, given the 68 senators who signed the document in support of the PEC. According to the president, he cannot be “the only villain” in the country for stopping the processing of proposals that impact public coffers.
“It is impossible for the president to be solely responsible for harming the lives of 400,000 health workers. Last year, in the Chamber, I didn’t notice anyone saying that this was a fiscal bomb for Brazil. I’m tired of being accused of being the man who is destabilizing Brazilian public accounts”, said the senator in an impassioned speech in the plenary.
6×1 locked
If the progress of the PEC that increases spending worries the government, the Executive is in a hurry to analyze the proposal that reduces the weekly working hours in the country. The e has not yet received any progress from Alcolumbre. The matter is considered an important electoral asset and, therefore, the government was aiming for approval in Congress this semester.
The PEC still needs to be sent to the CCJ by Alcolumbre, who ruled out speeding up the analysis with a vote directly in the plenary. He has already stated that the Senate should contribute with suggestions and not just be a “rubber stamp” House. This could change the rite of the proposal.
If it is changed by the senators, the PEC will need to return to the Chamber for analysis, which should further extend the conclusion of the analysis in Congress.
Also blocked and one of the government’s priorities, the Public Security PEC has also been awaiting submission to the CCJ since March. The proposal seeks to ensure greater integration in crime-fighting strategies, but faces resistance from governors who fear the loss of powers.
TIMELINE
Voting planning, however, can come up against some factors. Next week will be full of blended work at the National Congress, taking into account the São João festivities and the departure of the Brazilian team next Wednesday (24). The low number of congressmen present, coupled with the approaching parliamentary recess, makes it difficult to process proposals that require a greater voting quorum.
To pass a PEC, at least 41 votes in favor are required, the absolute majority of the plenary. If the semi-presential sessions and the parliamentary recess were not enough, the electoral period is also approaching, making even more projects of such fiscal relevance unfeasible.
Last Thursday (18), Alcolumbre of the National Congress precisely due to the low participation of parliamentarians and the lack of agreement in dealing with the maintenance or removal of presidential vetoes
INCREASE IN FLOORS
According to the president of the Senate himself, there are currently 31 proposals to change minimum salaries on the table of the President of the House waiting to be deliberated, with processing processes lasting up to 10 years. The propositions regulate 23 different categories:
- nurses and nursing technicians;
- dental surgeons;
- street sweepers and daisies;
- education technicians;
- physiotherapists;
- occupational therapists;
- nutritionists;
- vigilantes;
- psychologists;
- veterinarians;
- military police and fire department;
- telemarketers;
- guardianship counselors;
- social workers;
- midwives;
- doctors;
- community health agents;
- bus drivers;
- pharmacists;
- biologists;
- teaching staff;
- electrical technicians.
The vast majority of these projects are awaiting dispatch from the Senate Presidency to have any prospect of a vote. Others await deliberation from thematic commissions, such as the CAE (Economic Affairs Commission), so that they can estimate the budgetary and fiscal impact.
The survey carried out by CNN based on reports from the Senate’s Conorf (Budget, Inspection and Control Consultancy), it was found that the total expected impact of the projects is at least R$17 billion, with room for an increase in the future.
HISTORICAL WEIGHING
The recent record of approvals from a “spendthrift” Senate would reinforce the discourse of lack of responsibility with public accounts, with Alcolumbre as the main target.
The – with an impact estimated by the Ministry of Finance at R$ 140 billion –, the PLP increase in the MEI (Individual Microentrepreneur) limit – R$ 50 billion per year in revenue waivers – and the increase in the minimum wage for doctors and dentists – an expense of R$ 26 billion for municipalities – were thorns in the government’s side.
In a note released on the 11th, the Ministry of Finance listed nine proposals currently being processed in Congress with a high budgetary impact – an amount of R$111 billion per year.
The Federal Government is already taking measures to contain the spread of harmful agendas for the tax scheme. Dario Durigan, head of Finance, with the objective of generating additional revenue of R$20 billion in 2026. According to Durigan, the texts on the topic that are already being processed in the National Congress can be used as long as they are improved so that they have an effective result.
