Amendments irrigate congressmen’s strongholds and party coffers – 12/22/2023 – Dora Kramer

Parliamentary amendments were once a bargaining instrument; today and increasingly they become a factor in the appropriation of the Union Budget, whose advancement ends up distorting the distribution of resources across the country.

The money doesn’t necessarily go where it needs to go. It is used to irrigate electoral strongholds and meet the circumstantial interests of parliamentarians. It serves to produce votes for their highnesses.

It can be argued that, given the total amount, the portion reserved for amendments does not completely halt the government’s ability to execute public policies, but the pace of the carriage is worrying because the escalation will not stop.

First, individual amendments were considered mandatory (with mandatory payment). It seemed like a good step, a way to reduce the back-and-forth in the relationship between the Executive and Legislative branches.

Then came the imposition on bench amendments. Then, the trick of those “reporter” calls, also known as a secret budget. There are commission ones, which Congress also intends to be mandatory. Temporarily gave up, but will be back in charge soon. Just as Parliament will soon return to the idea of ​​creating a fourth type: the so-called “leadership”, controlled by the board of directors, giving a new guise to the so-called secret ones overturned by the Federal Supreme Court.

While these wolves do not come, the 2024 budget proposal included a calendar for the payment of taxes in the first half of the year. Of course, in the second there will be an election, and they need to be available for propaganda. Ready to climb onto the platforms of mayors and councilors, the foundation of the parties to elect federal deputies.

The more numerous they are, the greater the volume of money in party and electoral funds. And this is how the public financing system is fed back, with the amendments incorporated into it.

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