Legislators are on vacation for more than two weeks, but they weren’t able to vote on the bill that aims to renovate the tax on corporations.
Although a special meeting was convened on December 22nd to vote the initiative in first reading, the discussion regarding the fund was longer than expected.
During the discussion of the project, Partido de Liberación Nacional (PLN) questioned the government for neglecting public safety policies.
Liberationist Maureen Clarke and Sandra Piszk strongly criticized the government for having such high crime rates in 2016.
Congressman Mario Redondo, from Alianza Demócrata Cristiana (ADC), announced that he would not vote in favor of the project if the government did not present a comprehensive plan to improve public safety.
Abelino Esquivel, from Renovación Costarricense, also joined the critics for the deterioration in security matters.
The project intends to allocate 95% funds from the annual tax collection (¢ 47 billion) to the Ministry of Public Security in order to hire more police, squads and equipment. It also aims to allocate 5% for the Ministry of Justice for prison infrastructure.
Legislator Franklin Corella explained that the discussion will continue on January 9th when lawmakers return from their break.
After being voted in the first reading, the initiative will be sent to consultation to the Constitutional Court.