Congress asks and government studies voucher for truck drivers and taxi and Uber drivers

In an attempt to give an answer to allies on the increase in fuel prices without giving in to initiatives seen as more problematic, the government has shown itself willing to give in part in the discussion about using public coffers to alleviate the problem.

Therefore, the government recently rescued the idea of ​​the National Treasury paying monthly aid to truck drivers. The measure was defended by President Jair Bolsonaro (PL) last year as a means of avoiding the loss of his popularity among professionals in the face of price increases, but the signaled amount (R$400) irritated representatives of the category and the government had abandoned the idea.

With the increases in fuels accumulated since then, the initiative has returned to the debate and may reach an even wider audience this time. Now, the voucher may end up being also received by taxi drivers and apps (such as Uber).

In the economic team, the idea is not defended – but it is interpreted as a possible action in the face of so many ideas seen as more harmful. The Ministry of Economy has resisted for months, for example, a fund with public resources that would finance more subsidies for fuels.

The view expressed by different members is that the subsidies created to date for fuel do not solve structural problems, do not generate the effect of lowering prices and only dredge money from the public coffers. In addition, this type of measure creates an incentive for fossil fuels — contrary to the global debate for green solutions.

The valley for truck drivers has been studied at least since February 2021 in the face of successive government fears about a mobilization of professionals and the possible outbreak of a strike similar to that experienced by the country during the Temer government.

In the beginning, the idea would be to calculate an average of the kilometers traveled and the consumption of diesel. When the price increased, professionals would have a refund of the amount equivalent to federal taxation of PIS/Cofins. Today, however, discussions point to a fixed monthly amount to be paid.

The problem with the truck ticket and other measures that use public coffers this year is the spending ceiling. The constitutional cap, which prevents federal spending from growing beyond inflation, has already demanded cuts in different areas.

This month, the government announced a cut of R$ 8.2 billion in ministries due to the emergence of more expenses this year. The value should be even higher because the expenses with the increase for servers, which now tends to be 5% for everyone (according to Bolsonaro).

That is, the government has already needed to apply scissors to its expenses while a new one (valid for truck drivers) would need to be added. Government representatives, however, claim that the program can be designed in a way that does not impact public coffers so much – an amount of around R$ 1.5 billion this year is mentioned.

At the same time, the government insists on the idea that governors must contribute and lower ICMS on fuel and other items.

In any case, members recognize that several measures under discussion are palliative and that there is no way to significantly reduce fuel prices in the country.

Without a silver bullet to bring down fuel prices, the initiatives can at least give the Chief Executive the speech that there is some effort to contain values ​​during the election year.

As shown by Sheet, the list of possibilities includes a cut in the biodiesel import tax and a change in the composition of fuel sold at the pump. Some can be adopted by the Executive itself, without the need for congressional approval.

Even with all the studies, the view within the government is that a structural change in prices is only possible with the end of the Ukrainian War – which has put pressure on oil prices in recent months. Until the conflict in Europe ends, the tendency is for prices to continue rising.