Pacheco serves businessmen and speeds up voting for payroll exemption

The president of the Senate, Rodrigo Pacheco (PSD-MG), announced that the bill extending the payroll exemption for 17 sectors of the economy will be voted on in the House next Thursday (9).

The announcement was made after a meeting with businessmen from these sectors, who requested speed during the meeting so that the measure could be valid this year. The payroll exemption expires on December 31st.

The proposal has already been approved by the Chamber of Deputies. Therefore, if it receives the approval of the senators, without alterations, the text goes straight to the sanction of President Jair Bolsonaro.

Pacheco, on the other hand, stated that there would not be enough time to analyze, in 2021, a possible veto by Bolsonaro on the exemption from the payroll.

“I have just received a delegation of representatives of associations that in turn represent 17 sectors of the economy and production in our country, which are covered by the bill that refers to the exemption from payroll, which is actually a taxation specific for these sectors,” said Pacheco.

“What was decided by the Senate presidency, considering that it is a topic already widely approved by the Chamber of Deputies, known to the National Congress, because similar discussions took place in the past, regarding the inclusion of this project on the agenda of the Federal Senate on Thursday “, completed.

The payroll tax exemption, adopted by the PT government, allows companies to contribute with a percentage ranging from 1% to 4.5% on gross revenue, instead of 20% on employee compensation for Social Security (employer contribution ).

This represents a decrease in the cost of hiring labor. On the other hand, it means less money in public coffers.

Currently, the measure benefits call center companies, the computer industry, with development of systems, data processing and creation of electronic games, in addition to communication companies, companies operating in collective road transport of passengers and civil construction companies and of infrastructure works.

“It is an important project, because it reaches sectors with a high rate of employability, hence the reason for the project’s existence and the importance of its merit. So there is a commitment from the presidency, which I believe with the collaboration, if not unanimous, of the vast majority of the senators, that we have the appreciation in the plenary of the Senate this week, remembering that we are a little pressured by the circumstance of time,” said Pacheco.

The Senate president was then asked whether there would be time for Congress to overthrow the eventual veto of Bolsonaro.

“No, I wouldn’t [para derrubar eventual veto ainda neste ano]”, said Pacheco.

President Jair Bolsonaro, however, has already expressed support for the measure.

“Let’s admit that we keep the text of the Chamber, going to sanction, if there was any kind of veto, it wouldn’t be for this year, because we wouldn’t have a date for the session of the National Congress, except for something very exceptional that would have a veto until next week, likely to be object on the 17th of the congress session”, he added.

President Jair Bolsonaro, however, has already expressed support for the measure.

The payroll tax relief bill started to be processed in the Chamber of Deputies. It ended up being approved on a final basis by the CCJ (Committee on Constitution and Justice), on November 17th. In this way, he did not need to go to the plenary vote.

The proposal extends the exemption for the 17 sectors of the economy until December 31, 2023.

Pacheco also declared that he should meet this Tuesday with the president of the Chamber, Arthur Lira (PP-AL), to find a way out for the PEC dos Precatórios.

Almost a week after approval in the Senate, the measure faces an impasse as there is no agreement for enactment. Lira defends the promulgation of the common parts, approved in both the Chamber and the Senate. The changes promoted by the Senate, therefore, would be highlighted to initiate a new process in the Chamber of Deputies.

However, senators resist this option, as there would be no definition of when the changes would be appreciated by the deputies. The central point would be the linking of possible expenses with the opening of R$106 billion of space in the budget, made possible with the approval of the PEC. The senators defend that the lack of connection would give Bolsonaro carte blanche to use the resources as he sees fit, in an election year.

“I consider that the innovation made by the Senate is an intelligent, interesting and important innovation to link this fiscal space, that the destinations are specific destinations of high public interest. So I believe that this is important to be maintained. If it is going to be possible to do it now whether promulgated or not, this is an assessment that I would like to make with more care, with the Casa’s consultancy, so that there is no mistake in this process,” stated Pacheco.

A proposal designed to “guarantee” that the changes promoted by the senators will not end up in the Chamber’s drawer —if the central point of the PEC is enacted— would be to add this content to another PEC in progress in the Chamber, which could already go to the plenary of the House. However, even that proposal met with resistance. Lira’s allies say this would be a ploy.

Pacheco also commented on the postponement of the session of the National Congress for the consideration of presidential vetoes. The president of the Senate explained that there was no agreement and that is why the vetoes should be considered in session next week, even before the parliamentary recess. “The session scheduled for today had these objectives for the appreciation of these vetoes. The news that reached me is that there was no agreement necessary for the appreciation of the vetoes. It is important that we exhaust the agreements in order to have more optimized sessions,” he stated.​