Government considers revoking urgent status of transportation subsidy bill

SANTIAGO.- Following the open rejection expressed by independent senators and others opposed to the administration’s decision to mark the bill to subsidize public transportation as urgent, La Moneda has opened up to the possibility of eliminating the initiative’s 10-day discussion period in the Upper House.

Vice President Francisco Vidal explained that the decision to change the status of the discussion to urgent “has to do with the fact that the faster the subsidy benefits arrive to the regions, the better”, but added that it is also necessary “to compromise with the stance that has been taken by senators”.

Vidal also claimed that the government would continue discussing the matter with members of Parliament for “as much time” as it takes to explain the bill, which was just barely passed by one vote at the Chamber of Deputies last week.

“We are going to explain to every senator and in every region the significance of this good idea, that for the first time in Chile there would be a subsidy for public transportation”, he asserted.