DPP presidential candidate Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) yesterday said he would take concrete steps to carry out what he termed "efficient and conditional" tax reductions which would provide help to the education system, high-tech industry and policies for environmental protection.
"Making policy by promising tax breaks should not be based on winning elections nor on benefitting anyone's particular interests," Chen said.
Chen said the KMT's proposed tax reduction measures, under which income taxes would be slashed and the tax base would be expanded with the aim of narrowing the gap between the rich and the poor -- announced by the KMT's presidential candidate Lien Chan (連戰) and supported by the Minister of Finance Paul Chiu
"The crucial reason is that there is too much tax evasion among those with 'non-salary' incomes who have enjoyed paying less taxes," Chen said.
"Therefore, the burden of whole country's tax base falls on the shoulder of those people who abide by tax laws," Chen added.
In addition, Chen said that Lien's platform to reduce taxes would only make the government spend more money.
"A government which is heavily in debt, is involved in corruption, yet still wastes resources and remains inefficient, is not qualified to advocate reducing taxes," Chen said.
Chen's vice-presidential running mate, Annette Lu (
"How can people trust their promises to save the government's money?" Lu said.
Scholars in charge of drafting Chen's financial policy white paper stressed that a reduction in the tax rate is intended to change people's economic behavior and to create a more efficient economic development.
"The government should help those who want to help themselves first and not just spend resources unconditionally," said Lin Chun, a finance professor at National Chengchi University (
Publicizing his financial policy white paper yesterday, Chen stressed that he would reconstruct Taiwan's financial order using his "new middle way."
"Measures to reduce taxes for people should give consideration to two things -- responsibility and opportunity," Chen said.
According to Chen's white paper, the government should help maintain a viable economic and financial system and then use tax reduction measures to encourage people to produce more aggressively.
"The `conditional and efficient' tax reduction measures are wiser than those in Lien's policy. And we will use these measures to help pay for children's education, college education, public safety, social welfare, as well as to raise funds for youth to create their own businesses," Chen said.
Chen said he also supports the possibility of re-imposing a capital gains tax on the sale of shares (
Meanwhile, responding to suggestions that Chen's tax measures were similar to those proposed by US President Bill Clinton during his 1996 reelection campaign, Chen's advisers said that they had only adopted the "spirit" of Clinton's strategy.
"Taiwan's democratic system is very different from the US' presidential government" said an adviser.
"Our new president only needs to point out a clear direction for reform. Then the premier has to make policy in that direction, in cooperation with the cabinet," the adviser added.
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