Government sends Senate fiscal adjustment that cuts all benefits, except those of whoever wrote it

The Government has sent the Senate a fiscal adjustment bill that promises to curb spending and cut tax breaks. The text runs to 400 pages and comes with an annex of exceptions, which runs to 700.

According to the Planalto (the presidential palace), the cuts will hit 'sectors that have lived off privileges for decades'. The list of sectors has not yet been released, because it is being negotiated with the sectors themselves.

An aide who asked not to be identified explained the method: 'We cut whatever has no lobby. The rest we call industrial policy and keep.'

To contain spending, the bill creates the National Spending Review Council, with 38 posts filled by free appointment and an official car. The savings expected from the council exceed its cost by 112%, according to the council itself.

A businessman from Campinas, who has paid his tax in full since 1998, asked where the benefits counter was. He was told the counter closes before he gets there.