About 2.400 amendments have been presented to the liberalization decree, to the attention of the Senate Industry Committee. About 130 come from the Carroccio, while about a hundred were presented by the Pd group, to which, however, are added those presented by individual senators: another five hundred, more or less. The remainder is the result of proposals from the PDL, Italia dei Valori (which sent 150) and the Third Pole. The rapporteurs also presented some modification proposals while at the moment none have been signed by the government.
They range from the "anti-crime sticker" to ensure that companies are "healthy", to the moratorium on interest for loans to small and medium-sized enterprises, passing through greater protection for consumers in relations with banks and insurance companies. From the Third Pole Francesco Rutelli announced an amendment for intervene on public funding of parties so that a “Lusi-case” never occurs again.
And again for the Third Pole, the amendment proposals concern in particular the elimination of the obligation for doctors to indicate the substitutability of drugs with generic equivalents and a strengthening of the role of the Guarantee Authority on strikes, through an adaptation of the system of sanctions and the creation of an organic role of personnel, also in the light of its strategic position in the management of the conflict. “These are zero-cost changes – explained Senator Maria Ida Germontani, group leader of the Third Pole, Api-Fli in the Senate Industry Commission – which, by rationalizing and investing in quality and efficiency, they will be able to lead to sure savings for the State”.
"Fundamental - added Germontani - is also the separation of Telecom with the splitting of the network-manager company, while with an eye to new technologies, we believe it is right to lower the VAT on e-books, today even at 21 per cent, up to the 4 per cent foreseen for books'. The Democratic Party has presented changes ranging from banks to pharmacies via energy and the professions, touching ten chapters (banks, insurance companies, energy, transport, regulatory authorities, consumer protection, professions, pharmacies, notary companies).
The group leader in the Senate, Anna Finocchiaro, explains: “the Pd defends the decree but wants to help strengthen it and is ready to keep the point, even in case of trust ". Among the main requests of the Democratic Party that banks cannot condition the disbursement of a mortgage on the opening of a current account at the same bank and the introduction of portability without charges for the customer. Stop the 30% reduction in compensation for vehicle repairs if the policyholder goes to his trusted bodyshop.
From Washington, the prime minister, Mario Monti, expressed the hope of rapid approval with few modifications. Of course, now the presence of this large package of amendments will force the commission to skim: the goal is to get to the hearing in the week of February 28th. And possibly dismiss the text (the one that will come out of the commission) also with a vote of confidence. Even if – it is pointed out by parliamentary circles – the majority is there.
