The legislative caucus of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) repeated yesterday that KMT lawmakers will not obstruct the Cabinet-drafted bill on the expansion of public investments in infrastructure construction as long as relevant budgets for each project do not run counter to laws.
Liao Fung-te (
The projects, which epitomize the essence of the "Challenge 2008" six-year development plan introduced by the government, include programs for building a third freeway in central Taiwan, nurturing top-notch universities and research centers, expanding Kaohsiung Harbor into an intercontinental container center, as well as the building and extending of the mass rapid transit systems in Taipei and Kaohsiung.
According to Liao, the planned briefing will be presided over by Legislative Yuan Vice President Chiang Ping-kun (
As long as the Cabinet-drafted bill on expanding public construction investments is in line with relevant laws and regulations, Liao stressed, the alliance of the KMT and the People First Party (PFP) will not oppose the infrastructure construction plans.
As to budgets required for the mass rapid transit systems in Taipei and Kaohsiung that are to cost NT$23.6 billion, Liao pointed out that the KMT-PFP alliance will propose that Taiwan's Central Bank of China use its surplus to finance the construction of the MRT systems in the two special municipalities.
The opposition parties will also propose that apart from the MRT systems in Taipei and Kaohsiung, all the other construction projects be "thoroughly discussed" in feasibility, environmental protection and efficiency evaluations.
Meanwhile, Liao disclosed that should all draft bills be finished as scheduled, the KMT legislative caucus will refrain from supporting the extension of the current legislative session and will not push for the new Cabinet, to be sworn in on May 20, to deliver a new administrative report to the legislature.
Now that the March 19 shooting of President Chen Shui-bian (
The Legislative Yuan is scheduled to recess toward the end of the month, so only when the ruling and opposition parties agree to extend the current legislative session, will Yu -- who will continue to head the new Cabinet -- be able to deliver a new administrative report.
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