As expected, the President's speech to the nation last night dealt with the issues of the health plan and taxes.

He has announced a postponement of the implementation of the plan until September 1 in order to get more information to the population and eliminate concerns currently swirling around the plan as it exists today. Vice President Rafael Alburquerque will be in charge of the commission that will study the problems with the plan and take whatever measures are required to have it ready for the September 1 implementation.

Tax relief was also on the agenda of last night's speech and the President announced that he is sending three bills to Congress to reduce taxes. The taxes on alcoholic beverages will be reduced to 7.5% from 15% and on cigarettes to 20% from 100%. Income taxes on companies will also be reduced from 29% to 25%. This reduction had originally been planned to occur gradually until 2009 but was accelerated by the President in his new tax bills. There was also mention of an amnesty for taxpayers who haven't payed previous years' taxes.