WORKER OUTSIDE CONGRESS REFLECTING POOL AT SUNSET IN BRASILIA, 1999-01-08 (photo)

A worker heads for home after finishing the day's construction on a portion of the reflecting pool in front of the Congress building, in Brasilia late January 8. With Brazil headed for a sharp economic slowdown in 1999, the government said it would slash nearly $2 billion beyond an already streamlined budget to make up for delays in approving higher taxes in Congress. So far, the often undependable Congress has only approved two-thirds of the anti-inflation fiscal austerity plan which won Brazil a $41.5 billion loan package from the International Monetary Fund and the world's richest nations last November. Despte the period of fiscal austerity, the Lower House and Senate are expected to spend nearly $23 million of taxpayers money for their expenses during a 20-day special session of voting. GN/LJM/JDP