Federal Funds Conceded by Brazil's Government to Allies in Congress Are 40% Higher

10/27/2017 - 10h35

The congressmen who voted to bar charges against president Michel Temer on Wednesday (the 25th) received federal funds that were, on average, 40% higher when compared to those received by those who did not.

Congressional earmarks are proposals made by lawmakers in order to attend the needs of their constituents (such as building schools or bridges). The federal government oversees the concession of such funds.

Research conducted by Folha, that took into account official numbers, indicates that the Temer administration conceded, on average, R$ 2.6 million (US$ 800,000) in earmarks to each lawmaker who barred the investigation into the president.

The period taken into consideration starts in August, when Congress rejected the first set of charges.

On the other hand, lawmakers who voted in favor of proceeding with investigations received, on average, R$ 1.9 million (US$ 577,000) during the period in question – a 40% difference.

The opposition has stated that the government has been using the concession of funds in exchange for votes in Congress.

When it comes to the Temer administration's handling of earmarks, August of 2017 stands out as the month in which the discrepancy of funds received between the two groups in absolute terms was the greatest.

During the month in question, congressmen in the governing coalition received, on average, R$ 865,000 (US$ 263,000) more than those in the opposition. Up until then, differences in funds had not varied significantly.

The administration issued a statement that read that there is no "relation between the concession of earmarks and how congressmen vote. The fact that earmark funds were conceded to both congressmen in the opposition and the governing coalition in a balanced way serves as proof".

The administration did not comment on the 40% discrepancy that benefitted congressmen who voted in favor of the government.

Translated by THOMAS MATHEWSON

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	Ueslei Marcelino - 26.jun.2017/Folhapress
	Brazilian President Michel Temer looks on during a ceremony at Planalto Palace