The Federal Senate approved this Wednesday (4) a bill which allows the Lula government not to respect the obligation to pay the medical minimum for 2023. There were 63 votes in favor and only two against. The proposal is submitted to the president for approval.

The device was included in a bill that authorizes the compensation of state and municipal revenues following the reduction of the ICMS on fuels, in force between June and December 2022.

The possibility of revoking the health ceiling was inserted by deputy Zeca Dirceu (PT-PR), even when the project was being examined in the Chamber of Deputies. The proposal was not included in this Wednesday’s agenda by the Senate, but was approved as a supplementary agenda.

With the possibility of not respecting the health minimum, the text removes the obligation to allocate 15% of current net revenue (RCL) to health. For health, we would have to pay an additional 20 billion reais.

Senator Tereza Cristina (PP-MS) presented the project — for a later vote –, with the aim of removing the article which predicted that the government would not respect the ceiling, but which was ultimately rejected during the vote in plenary.

“The exclusion of this article is a crucial measure to ensure that government policies are aligned with the legal principles and commitments established by Congress, promoting the transparency, credibility and sustainability of public finances,” the senator said.

Among the votes against the project, only senators Eduardo Girão (Novo-CE) and Carlos Portinho (PL-RJ) refused to approve the proposal which provides for non-compliance with the ceiling. Six other PL parliamentarians were in favor of the project. All PT senators voted to approve the proposal.

During the consultation, the ministry is considering whether the constitutional floor should be applied in 2024. The framework was approved by Congress in August. The government wants to know if the mandatory minimum sentence would only be valid from 2024.

“It is even easier to increase revenues, while offshore taxation is being voted on, than to reduce spending. In such a poor country, it is not such a simple decision. For the to do, you have to have courage. In the worst case scenario. “In this scenario, improve the quality of spending. Take from those who don’t deserve it and give to those who need it. If we can return this key, we will have a new Brazil,” Tebet said.