Senate in race against time to approve budget

(ANSA) - ROME, DEC 27 - The Italian Senate is in a race against time to approve the 2023 budget bill by the end of the year.
    The 35-billion-euro package, which includes 21 billion euros of measures to cushion the impact of the energy crisis, is set to hit the Senate floor Tuesday afternoon and is expected to be approved by Wednesday evening.
    Some political parties are still eyeing major changes with the centre-right Forza Italia party seeking to raise minimum pensions to 1,000 euros a month and the 5-Star Movement battling to save some of its flagship 'citizenship wage' basic income anti-poverty and job seekers benefit, which is set to be phased out.
    The budget cuts income tax for people earning up to 35,000 euros by two percentage points and for those on under 20,000 by three points.
    It also raises the maximum threshold of the 15% flat tax for the self-employed for those on up to 65,000 euros a year to 85,000 and makes it easier for people to retire early.
    It brings in the 'Quota 103' system which makes it possible for people to start claiming their State pension at the age of 62 if they have 41 years of social-security contributions.
    It was amended last week to remove a controversial measure that would have enabled retailers to refuse card payments for amounts up to 60 euros.
    Opposition parties criticized the move, saying it would have made tax evasion easier, and the European Commission also found fault with it.
    The amendment means shops, cafes and bars will not have the right to refuse cards and demand cash, even for the payment of small things such as a coffee. Indeed, they face fines if they do so.
    The budget also abolishes the 'citizenship-wage' minimum-income benefit for people considered fit for work from the end of next year.
    An amendment brought down the maximum number of months the 'fit for work' can claim the benefit in 2023 from eight months to seven.
    A bid by leftwing and Green parties to scrub a cities-wide boar cull from the 2023 budget bill was defeated Thursday.
    The relevant amendment, which also envisages people eating the animals they put down, was passed.
    Separately, regional authorities said they would set up special courses to train the boar hunters how to shoot or, in some cases, trap the boar. (ANSA).