Eight legislators of different political stripes formed a special task force yesterday to push for early passage of a slew of "sunshine laws" that aim to rid Taiwan's politics of moneyed influence.
At the inaugural ceremony of the task force, members of the cross-party panel vowed to transcend partisan considerations.
KMT legislator Chen Shei-saint (
"All members also promise to serve as a conduit for the team's communications with their own legislative caucuses in discussing provisions of these `sunshine laws,'" Chen said.
The KMT legislator added that task-force members are committed to persuading their own legislative caucuses to allow their members to vote freely should showdown votes be held in the legislature.
"Even if we may be disciplined by our own parties, we are determined to give the priority to national interests instead of partisan interests," Chen stressed.
The seven other members of the team are Su Ying-kuei (蘇盈貴) of the TSU, Lee Yung-ping (李永萍) of the PFP, Lee Wen-chung (李文忠) and Julian Kuo (郭正亮) of the DPP and Huang Teh-fu (黃德福) of the KMT.
Chen said that the passage of "sunshine laws" is a nearly unanimous campaign promise of incumbent legislators from across the political spectrum.
"It is not only mainstream public opinion, but also a cross-party consensus. And now is the time to realize our campaign promise," he said.
Also at the inaugural ceremony, legislator Eugene Chao (
"To date, only a few relevant laws, including the Public Functionary Assets Disclosure Law (
"As many other important bills are still pending legislative approval, the goal of establishing clean politics remains a distant dream," he said.
The new cross-party panel has arranged a priority list of bills, including measures to regulate political parties and contributions, government lobbying and information disclosure.
"We have set the target that at least one `sunshine bill' must be passed at each legislative session," Chao noted.
In addition, Chao said, the panel would continue pushing the government to draft detailed enforcement rules to facilitate the implementation of several "sunshine bills" that have already cleared the legislative floor.
As many "sunshine laws" are closely related to party interests, discussions on various provisions are likely to trigger standoffs between the ruling and opposition parties.
"All members have reached a consensus that the common interests of all citizens will take precedence over any partisan interests," Chao said.
Three Taiwanese airlines have prohibited passengers from packing Bluetooth earbuds and their charger cases in checked luggage. EVA Air and Uni Air said that Bluetooth earbuds and charger cases are categorized as portable electronic devices, which should be switched off if they are placed in checked luggage based on international aviation safety regulations. They must not be in standby or sleep mode. However, as charging would continue when earbuds are placed in the charger cases, which would contravene international aviation regulations, their cases must be carried as hand luggage, they said. Tigerair Taiwan said that earbud charger cases are equipped
Foreign travelers entering Taiwan on a short layover via Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport are receiving NT$600 gift vouchers from yesterday, the Tourism Administration said, adding that it hopes the incentive would boost tourism consumption at the airport. The program, which allows travelers holding non-Taiwan passports who enter the country during a layover of up to 24 hours to claim a voucher, aims to promote attractions at the airport, the agency said in a statement on Friday. To participate, travelers must sign up on the campaign Web site, the agency said. They can then present their passport and boarding pass for their connecting international
UNILATERAL MOVES: Officials have raised concerns that Beijing could try to exert economic control over Kinmen in a key development plan next year The Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) yesterday said that China has so far failed to provide any information about a new airport expected to open next year that is less than 10km from a Taiwanese airport, raising flight safety concerns. Xiamen Xiangan International Airport is only about 3km at its closest point from the islands in Kinmen County — the scene of on-off fighting during the Cold War — and construction work can be seen and heard clearly from the Taiwan side. In a written statement sent to Reuters, the CAA said that airports close to each other need detailed advanced
WEATHER Typhoon forming: CWA A tropical depression is expected to form into a typhoon as early as today, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday, adding that the storm’s path remains uncertain. Before the weekend, it would move toward the Philippines, the agency said. Some time around Monday next week, it might reach a turning point, either veering north toward waters east of Taiwan or continuing westward across the Philippines, the CWA said. Meanwhile, the eye of Typhoon Kalmaegi was 1,310km south-southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost point, as of 2am yesterday, it said. The storm is forecast to move through central
RSS