Brasília, 9/25/2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The Senate Commission on Constitution and Justice (CCJ) has approved a draft bill (texto-base) for Social Security reform. The vote was 14 to 7. The author of the draft text was senator Tião Viana (PT/AC)

With that victory the government intends to get final votes today on 316 amendments (riders) to the bill which have already been rejected, along with votes on changes proposed by opposition parties.

According to the government's leader in the Senate, Aloizio Mercadante (PT/SP), the voting should be completed by next Tuesday, September 30. (AB)