Laht.com: The maximum pay that Venezuelan public officials can earn will drop to the equivalent of US$5,397 a month under a bill now moving through the National Assembly.  A legislative commission will take over drafting the bill, which was approved on Tuesday at first reading.

The new law was requested last Saturday by President Hugo Chavez to put an end to what he called "super salaries that are shameful," within the framework of economic measures he announced calling for "strict" control of spending. That, he said, includes the immediate elimination of any excessive spending by the government, whether it be on vehicles, remodeling of offices, advertising and propaganda, and even, among other things, "corporate gifts and unnecessary missions abroad by officials."

The sponsor of the bill, lawmaker Luis Tascon, said in the first congressional debate that "it's not proper for Chavez to earn around 5,000 bolivares ($2,325)" a month while Energy Minister Rafael Ramírez, who is also head of state oil company PDVSA, is paid 60,000 bolivares ($27,906) every month. Tascon, who said that Supreme Court judges were receiving more than $13,000 a month, proposed that no public official be paid more than $5,397, or 12 times the minimum monthly salary in Venezuela.

Under his bill, the cap for lawmakers, state governors, mayors, councilors and other officials will be 10 minimum monthly salaries.

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