BA province Legislature passes land reform bill

The Buenos Aires province Senate ratified the changes made earlier by the Lower House and passed the land reform bill, which will to raise taxes on 38 percent of rural properties. The law is widely rejected by the farming sector.

After weeks of negotiations, Governor Daniel Scioli signed a decree authorizing it and sent it to the provincial Lower House, where lawmakers mustered quorum and voted in favour of it and sent it back to the Senate with some amendments in order for senators to vote for it again.

The tax reform is looking to collect $2.6 billion pesos in 2012.

Approximately $1 billion is expected to go to the National Government.

Provincial Lower House Speaker Horacio González called for the land reform debate on Thursday, where Scioli holds majority but opposition parties had refused to come to the floor to debate if the bill was sent via decree.

The opposition Radicals said they were willing to grant quorum for the session to open if the value of rural land was not included in a decree and up for debate.

Lieutenant-Governor Gabriel Mariotto yesterday urged provincial senators to be also ready to session today.

Since May 10, the ruling Victory Front has been trying to no avail to reach the Lower House quorum of 47 members to debate. The Victory Front holds 43 seats and has three allies in the New Encounter party lawmaker. It needs the backing of at least one more lawmaker to session.