... while blue camp voices regret, vowing to press on

The KMT and the PFP yesterday expressed regret over the legislature's decision to overturn amendments to the nation's budget allocation law -- which the two parties had cooperated to pass right before the conclusion of the last legislative session in mid-January.

The two parties reasoned that the pressure exerted by the administrative branch on lawmakers was what thwarted their effort to uphold the amendments, despite their threats to take disciplinary action against any members failing to toe the party line.

In addition to eight independent lawmakers, two lawmakers from each of the parties abstained from voting yesterday by not turning up.

According to KMT legislative whip Lin Yi-shih (林益世), the Cabinet used all possible means, including administrative resources as well as judicial and economic power, to influence opposition lawmakers.

"We hope all the pressure inflicted on lawmakers will come to an end after the vote. The voting preferences of the lawmakers should not become the basis for local financial allocation in the future," Lin said.

Lin, however, would not detail what punishments the party would take against lawmakers who failed to toe the party line to uphold the amendment.

Meanwhile, PFP legislative caucus convener Diane Lee (李慶安) said the two absent PFP lawmakers -- both representing the Aborigines -- will be referred to the caucus' disciplinary committee.

Lee said she understood that the two lawmakers were under great pressure from their constituencies and had been misled by some false information spread by the Cabinet.

Lee said that the Cabinet's Council of Aboriginal Affairs had told lawmakers that the interests of Aborigines were not taken care of by the amendments, which she said prompted the lawmakers in question to act against the party's decision.

Nevertheless, the KMT and the PFP said that they would accept the outcome and urged the Cabinet to take full responsibility to resolve the financial problems of local governments in the future.

In particular, Premier Yu Shyi-kun should make good on his promise to not reduce funding for local governments, Lin said.

He said that the KMT will continue to push forward its effort for local financial reform.

Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), who proposed the amendments, said yesterday's defeat would not hamper the KMT's will to fight the centralization of the government.

"It is a long-term war to decentralize the power and money controlled by the central government. We must continue to struggle for this goal," Ma said.