Parliamentarians want to bring forward amendments in the wake of aid to RS

Deputies and senators are trying to take advantage of the dramatic situation in Rio Grande do Sul to try to implement tax and assistance benefit initiatives that are valid not only for the state devastated by heavy rains, but also in locations across the country and in the current pre-election period. . In addition to the nine projects specifically aimed at the Rio Grande do Sul crisis, presented to be debated and guided, other proposals are being forwarded with an eye on the Union’s financial assistance to different sectors and units of the Federation.

Among the proposals is the anticipation of payment of parliamentary amendments for several states, the forgiveness of agricultural debts at a national level and the return of emergency aid adopted during the pandemic. The government committed to releasing R$1.3 billion in amendments for Rio Grande do Sul, of which R$448 million in the form of Pix amendments – technically called special transfers. But a change in the Budget Guidelines Law (LDO) approved by the Mixed Budget Committee (CMO) on Wednesday (8) may also increase the amount of these releases, to reach all areas affected by calamities or health emergencies.

According to the map of the Integrated Disaster Information System (S2iD), from the Ministry of National Integration, the country currently has 1,640 municipalities formally considered to be in a state of calamity or emergency situation. Most cases are not related to flooding. Much of it is due to public health crises.

For the Ministry of Health alone, there are 605 municipalities, nine states and the Federal District under emergency decrees published due to health crises. Of these, 316 refer to dengue outbreaks, recognized as an out-of-control viral disease. These locations, concentrated in the South and Central-West, are those that would be favored by bringing forward the Pix amendments. There is still a chance that other municipalities that declare a calamity or health emergency could also embark on releasing and increasing the amounts to be paid before the municipal elections.

Representative AJ Albuquerque (PP-CE), rapporteur of the project that modifies this year’s LDO, PLN 4/24, took forward the proposal that allows the government to execute with priority the resources of parliamentary amendments to the Budget for cities in calamity situations public. This point was forwarded by 13 deputies from the Rio Grande do Sul bench and prioritizes municipalities in public health emergencies. Representative Claudio Cajado (PP-BA) regretted the change: “this simply takes away all the work the country has done to move towards a responsible government. It’s a big step backwards.”

Application of amendments without federal oversight

The values ​​of the Pix amendments are reserved in the Budget, but their release before the election period would force the government to restrict other expenses to maintain cash balance. Its allocations fall directly into the cash of states and municipalities without any defined purpose or guarantees that the city hall or state government will apply the money to combat the calamity. The Federal Court of Auditors (TCU) will monitor, for example, the application of emergency resources in Rio Grande do Sul on three fronts: the civil defense response, reconstruction actions and the state’s fiscal rearrangement. However, the Court does not monitor the use of the Pix amendment, a task that falls to the local audit courts.

All the money that the federal government has spent so far to help flood victims was already approved in the Budget, but the situation could lead to an increase in expenses, with an impact to be calculated. The transfer of resources outside the fiscal limits will be restricted to confronting the calamity in Rio Grande do Sul, as per the Legislative Decree Project (PDL) proposed by President Luís Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) on Monday (6) and sanctioned by the Congress on Wednesday (8).

The joint session of Congress scheduled for this Thursday (9) should evaluate a proposal to prioritize the payment of parliamentary amendments intended by the Rio Grande do Sul bench. Upon confirming this intention, the government leader, senator Randolfe Rodrigues (no party- AP), also presented text that allows the exceptional reopening of the allocation of parliamentary amendments, so that deputies and senators can direct resources to Rio Grande do Sul, including representatives from other states. This suggestion was also approved by the CMO.

The first session of Congress of the year had been postponed for two weeks due to the risk of serial defeats for the government, with the overturning of presidential vetoes, including the blocking of parliamentary amendments to the Budget. The perception of an agreement between the government and Congress was confirmed with the approval by the Senate, on Wednesday night (8), of the project to revive DPVAT Insurance, with an amendment that releases an extra expense of R$ 15.7 billion in the 2024 Budget.

The expectation is that its approval will guarantee R$3.6 billion in amendments, while Congress is fighting with the government over the R$5.6 billion in committee amendments vetoed from the 2024 Budget, in addition to a calendar that imposes the payment of resources indicated by deputies and senators in the areas of health and social assistance in the first half of the year, before the elections.

For Luiz Felipe Freitas, political scientist and legislative advisor at Malta Advogados, the priority of congressmen with the issue of the electoral race cannot be interrupted even in the midst of a gigantic disaster like the one in Rio Grande do Sul. “Unfortunately, even tragic phenomena such as this end up becoming one of the fuels to win voters. Despite the merits of the amendments’ anticipation, parliamentarians from other states may even make allocations to the gauchos, but there is no doubt that a large part will be for their own electoral strongholds, aiming to garner support for its candidates throughout Brazil”, he explained.

Congress analyzes nine actions to help RS

The tragedy in Rio Grande do Sul led to the presentation of two Constitutional Amendment Proposals (PEC) and seven bills in Congress, aiming to support the state’s recovery, speed up the allocation of resources to affected areas and protect victims of climate disasters. . In the Senate, PEC 15/2024, authored by Alessandro Vieira (MDB-SE), proposes “war budgets” for calamities such as droughts, floods and toxic leaks, allowing spending without specifying the source of resources, simplifying hiring rites and eliminating restrictions on the transfer of resources from the Union to states and municipalities.

In the Chamber, the PEC presented by deputy Bibo Nunes (PL-RS) reserves up to 5% of parliamentarians’ individual amendments to mitigate the effects of catastrophes and emergencies, guaranteeing resources for states in crisis. Other measures include the allocation of R$2.2 billion from the electoral fund for reconstruction of the state, proposed by senator Ireneu Orth (PP-RS); exemption from water and electricity tariffs in disaster areas, suggested by deputy Zucco (PL-RS), and measures to assist affected rural producers, with projects by Zucco and Marcos Pollon (PL-MS).

Furthermore, deputy Junio ​​Amaral (PL-MG) presented a project that includes victims of disasters in the order of priority for receiving income tax refunds, while deputy Fernanda Melchionna (Psol-RS) proposes punishments for traders who practice abusive prices due to shortages.

Finally, Túlio Gadêlha (Rede-PE) proposed postponing public tenders in places that declared a state of public calamity. In this vein, deputy Domingos Sávio (PL-MG) and senator Alessandro Vieira (MDB-SE) proposed the return of emergency aid for calamity situations, but without government support.

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