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Budget shortfall results in attack on the Cabinet

"... the Cabinet lacks the jurisdiction to cut the budget, since it is the purview of the Legislative Yuan to adjust, review and cut budgetary bills proposed by the Executive Yuan." Lin Chuan, head of the Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics PHOTO: GEORGE TSORNG, TAIPEI TIMES

PFP lawmakers yesterday threatened to refer Lin Chuan (林全), head of the Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics, to the Control Yuan for investigation for ignoring a legislative resolution demanding the Cabinet resolve its budget shortfall for 2002.

Diane Lee (李慶安), PFP legislative caucus convener, said the party decided to take such a tough stand on the matter because "a legislative resolution is not something to be treated with contempt."

If the Cabinet has a problem carrying out the resolution, it should introduce a proposal and ask the legislature to reconsider the decision, according to Lee.

The Cabinet's failure to respond to the resolution is a violation of the system of governance mandated by the Constitution, Lee argued.

In response to the threat, Lin insisted that the Cabinet has conducted its handling of the budget in full accordance with the law.

Lin said, "The Cabinet lacks the jurisdiction to cut the budget, since it is the purview of the Legislative Yuan to adjust, review and cut budgetary bills proposed by the Executive Yuan."

Accusing the Cabinet of over-estimating the nation's revenue, the opposition-dominated legislature trimmed its forecast by NT$81.2 billion when passing the NT$1.6 trillion budget in January.

However, as the legislature only cut projected spending by NT$12.7 billion, it left a shortfall of NT$68.5 billion.

According to the resolution passed by the legislature, the Cabinet should adjust its spending plans of its own accord to resolve the shortfall and is prohibited from using surpluses from previous fiscal years to fill the gap.

Lin Yi-shih (林益世), KMT legislative caucus whip, agreed that the Cabinet cannot be allowed to act according to its own whims.

However, Lin said his caucus needs to further review the Cabinet violations before making a decision on whether to support the PFP proposal to refer Lin Chuan to the Control Yuan.
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