The legislature's oversight of measures outlining the implementation of the Sept. 25 post-earthquake emergency decree is stirring heated debate with members of the Cabinet, with little agreement between the two bodies except that further negotiations are needed.
The legislature's procedural committee announced a decision yesterday that the so-called "operational priorities" put forward by the Cabinet on Oct. 18 to implement the emergency decree would require a "clause by clause" review in the legislature.
KMT members from both the executive and legislative branches, however, vowed at a meeting to put the issue to a vote at tomorrow's session of the full legislature.
Premier Vincent Siew (
"To avoid the possibility of abusing the authority of the emergency decree, we have set up the operational priorities as guidelines. The threshold for drawing up a more detailed guideline was done with good intentions and was responsibly crafted,'' Siew said.
In an apparent attempt to maintain good relations with the legislature, Siew has reversed his original announcement that the measures did not need legislative approval.
During yesterday's meeting, Siew also urged legislators to concentrate on post-quake special reconstruction legislation rather than consuming their energy on the oversight of the emergency decree's operational priorities.
After 22 lawmakers delivered their opinions to KMT leaders, the secretary-general of the KMT's Policy Coordination Committee, Hong Yuh-chin (
"The KMT will mobilize all party lawmakers to back the Cabinet's decision during tomorrow's vote," Hong said.
In addition to explaining the Cabinet's position over the "priorities" issue, Siew also attempted to justify the disputed decision-making process.
"Before the Cabinet meeting gives out its final ruling, during the process of shaping the policy, each different opinion would naturally be heard. Due to the side effects of such transparent discussions, the public could easily get the wrong impression that we make one order in the morning and replace it with another one in the evening,'' Siew said.
While Siew defended his about-face over the operational priorities policies, however, legislators continued their stern criticism over Siew's decision-making style.
KMT legislator Chen Shei-saint (
"Although the Cabinet is involved in a crisis, they obviously lack the wisdom and skills to cope with what is going on.''
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