Brazil Provisionally Passes Basic Income Bill Into Law

Karl Widerquist reports: "The Brazilian National Congress has approved the Bill of Law, authored by
Senator Eduardo Suplicy, that will create a basic income guarantee in Brazil.
The Bill now goes to President Luiz Ignacio Lula da Silva who is expected to
sign it. If signed into law, the bill will begin phasing-in a basic income in
2005 starting with the most needy. When fully implemented, the citizen basic
income will mean that all people, regardless of their origin, race, sex, age,
social and economic status will have a monetary income enough to attend their
vital needs. The bill calls for a subsistence level grant, but leaves it to
the executive to determine the exact amount of the benefit, with due regard to
the stage of development of the country and the budgetary capabilities. If
this bill becomes law, Brazil will become the first nation in history to grant
the unconditional right of subsistence to all inhabitants."