Chavez uses decree for disaster fund in Venezuela

[Judi Lynn]

Chavez uses decree for disaster fund in Venezuela
– 1 hr 11 mins ago

CARACAS, Venezuela – Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez says he is signing his first decree under new powers granted to him by congress to create a fund for housing reconstruction after recent floods and landslides.

The National Assembly earlier this month granted Chavez broad powers to enact laws by decree for a year and a half.

Chavez opponents have condemned that and a package of other laws approved by the president's congressional allies, saying they are aimed at boosting Chavez's powers and enabling the government to crack down on dissent.

Chavez said Sunday that the new government fund will initially receive 10 billion bolivars ($2.3 billion) to pay for rebuilding areas devastated by torrential rains.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101227/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/lt_venezuela_chavez

[social_critic]

1. So why would a presidential decree be needed?

The national assembly is in session. They have passed quite a few laws in recent days, ranging from the university law to laws controlling the behavior of assembly members, to laws controlling the media, the internet, re-configuring government to centralize power, and of course the law giving the president the ability to rule by decree.

So why couldn't they pass exactly the same law he just signed using the same system they always did? They have a super majority in the assembly right now, what is the excuse? That chavista assembly members who did approve the law allowing the president to rule by decree would not approve a law funding help for the people impacted by the floods? Interesting logic.