A proposal contained in the
government's 2020 budget bill that would boost councils' powers
to may people who owe them tax cough up has stirred controversy.
The measure would give councils powers akin to those of the
inland revenue in such cases and make it easier for them to
seize assets from the salaries or bank accounts of people who
have failed to pay property taxes or other local duties, such as
those for trash collection.
League leader Matteo Salvini said the idea was the "stuff of
the USSR" amid rumours an amendment was being considered to
extend the enhanced powers to the recovery of unpaid fines.
Premier Giuseppe Conte dismissed this speculation on
Wednesday.
On Thursday Deputy Junior Laura Castelli said the furore was
a storm in the teacup as little was actually changing.
"Fines are not included. It's the umpteenth fake news to come
from Salvini," she said.
"The measure does not touch the procedure to seize bank
accounts, which exists since it was introduced in 1910".
photo: Laura Castelli.
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