Good morning! Today, Lula faces more nuisance from Congress. The Amazon Fund gets more money. And how Brazilians’ views on abortions may be changing.
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Congress wants more control over budgetary grants
Leaders in Congress are discussing a way to change how budgetary grants are paid to lawmakers — which would deprive the government of one of its main instruments to whip the support of rank-and-file members of the federal legislative branch.
Context. These grants stem from a constitutional provision that prevents the Executive from having monopoly control over the federal budget. Lawmakers are allowed to allocate parts of the budget to projects of their interest, typically infrastructure or healthcare ventures in their constituencies.
- Prior to 2015, the Executive branch decided which budget appropriations would be paid out and when — turning them into an effective bargaining chip for the government when trying to pass legislation in Congress.
- Legislative changes in 2015 and 2019 made the payment of individual and collective earmarks both mandatory and egalitarian, reducing the leverage presidents have...