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Brazil governor wants environmental fund to pay pensions Brazil governor wants environmental fund to pay pensions
(35 minutes later)
RIO DE JANEIRO — The Rio de Janeiro state governor wants to use money earmarked for an environmental fund to cover shortfalls in civil servants’ pensions, a major Brazilian daily said Tuesday. RIO DE JANEIRO — The Rio de Janeiro state governor wants to use money earmarked for an environmental fund being used to clean up waterways before the upcoming Olympics to cover shortfalls in civil servants’ pensions, a major Brazilian daily said Tuesday.
A press officer at Gov. Luiz Fernando Pezao’s office confirmed the information published Tuesday by the O Globo newspapers.A press officer at Gov. Luiz Fernando Pezao’s office confirmed the information published Tuesday by the O Globo newspapers.
The newspaper said the money would cover an expected 2016 pension payment deficit of US$3 billion and that the government has pledged that the Rio de Janeiro state treasury would replace the funds. The newspaper said the money would cover an expected 2016 pension payment deficit of US$3 billion and said that the government has pledged that the Rio de Janeiro state treasury would replace the funds. The state legislature must approve the proposal.
The Rio de Janeiro State Environmental Protection Fund has been used to improve sewage treatment centers and begin cleaning lakes, rivers and Guanabara Bay, a water sports venue for the upcoming Olympic games. While the government is struggling to meet its pension obligations to workers, diverting money from the environmental fund could hurt efforts to clean up the environment amid worries about water contamination before the Olympics starting Aug. 5.
Pezao’s proposal must be approved by the State Legislature. But that could depend on when, or even if, the legislature takes up the issue.
The newspaper said that because of a drop in oil revenues from the country’s oil fields, money spent on cleanup projects fell 30 percent last year compared with a year earlier. The money in the Rio de Janeiro State Environmental Protection Fund has been used to improve sewage treatment centers and begin cleaning lakes, rivers and Guanabara Bay, a water sports venue for the games.
But the newspaper said that because of a drop in the country’s oil revenues, money spent on cleanup projects fell 30 percent last year compared with a year earlier.
Carlos Minc, Rio de Janeiro’s former environment secretary, told O Globo the governor’s proposal will cause Rio to “take an environmental step backward.”Carlos Minc, Rio de Janeiro’s former environment secretary, told O Globo the governor’s proposal will cause Rio to “take an environmental step backward.”
“The money will not be replaced and the fund will be left with nothing,” he said.“The money will not be replaced and the fund will be left with nothing,” he said.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.