Print

Mail

wiki links

Protesters blast plans for vacation

Members of Citizen Congress Watch protest outside the legislature in Taipei yesterday against the decision by lawmakers to have a 40-day holiday while a lengthy list of bills are awaiting review. PHOTO: CNA

A number of civic groups staged a demonstration in front of the legislature yesterday to protest a resolution by lawmakers to grant themselves an early vacation, despite a long queue of bills that are still waiting to be reviewed.

"Lawmakers have passed a resolution to close the legislative session on Dec. 21, which would give them around 40 days off before their term finishes at the end of January," Ho Tsung-hsun (何宗勳), secretary-general of the Taiwan Environmental Protection Union, told a crowd gathered in front of the legislature.

According to legislative regulations, this legislative session should be finishing on Dec. 31 instead.

"While they will not be working during the 40 days, they will still be paid," Ho said. "As each will receive NT$240,000 [US$7,400], taxpayers will be paying a total amount of more than NT$50 million [US$1,543,000] for the 213 lawmakers to not work!"

The groups listed a number of bills that are still stuck in the long legislative queue, including the law on judges, the bill for greenhouse gas emission reduction, the energy tax bill, the Hansen's disease (leprosy) patient compensation bill, and many social welfare bills.

"We hereby ask lawmakers to do their job, and cancel the plan for early session closing. Lawmakers who start their break early should donate their income for the period to public welfare."

Ku Chung-hua, chairman of Citizen Congress Watch

"The Hansen's disease bill was introduced to the legislature two years ago" Lee Tien-pei (李添培), president of the Lepers' Self-Help Organization. "Over the past two years, 35 people with Hansen's disease have passed away, yet the bill has not been passed."

"They may as well just not pass it because we will all die pretty soon," Lee said.

"We hereby ask lawmakers to do their job, and cancel the plan for early session closing," said Ku Chung-hua (顧忠華), chairman of Citizen Congress Watch. " Lawmakers who start their break early should donate their income for the period to public welfare."

Garden of Hope Foundation director Chi Hui-jung (紀惠容) called on voters to boycott legislators who supported the early closing resolution.

Kao Cheng-yen (高成炎), former convener of the Green Party Taiwan, agreed.

"Whoever wants to go on a break, we'll let them go on a break forever!" Kao said.
This story has been viewed 1017 times.