President Chen Shui-bian (
Following his meeting with DPP regional administrators last Sunday, Chen yesterday met with non-DPP mayors and county commissioners to hear grassroots opinions and solicit support for a NT$50 billion public-construction package designed to deal with rising unemployment.
PHOTO: CNA
Chen told the group that the relationship between central and regional governments is based on partnership rather than rivalry, and he urged opposition parties to forsake political prejudice to join the government's efforts because "helping the poor is a matter of urgency."
Nine of the 14 non-DPP regional leaders attended the meeting. Most of them expressed their hope that all the parties would immediately begin negotiations to enable the budget to be passed promptly.
The Cabinet proposed two job-creation programs costing NT$70 billion in January: a NT$20 billion public service sector program and a NT$50 billion infrastructure project.
The opposition alliance has repeatedly stated its belief that the programs would serve as a campaign fund for the DPP. The debate over how to allocate the NT$50 billion almost paralyzed the legislature this week.
According to the Cabinet's proposal, NT$8.5 billion would be at the disposal of the central government, NT$2.3 billion is slated for Taipei and Kaohsiung special municipalities and the remaining NT$39.2 billion will go to other local administrations.
But the KMT and PFP insisted that NT$8.4 billion out of the NT$39.2 billion should be distributed directly to the townships.
Whereas the pan-blue camp charges that DPP administrations would be the prime beneficiaries of the funds, the ruling party believes the proposal by the pan-blue camp is a scheme to attract votes.
Chen said the most crucial thing is to enter into cross-party negotiations because "the proposals are not so different in nature ... The government would be letting the people down if the initiative can't be implemented by June."
Premier Yu Shyi-kun said that the Cabinet is willing to take advice and that the Executive Yuan would not favor any local administration in distributing funds.
Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) said he would consider the best interests of his city when giving his support to any spending plan.
Taipei was not listed in an original version of the spending plans introduced by the Executive Yuan. But now that Taipei was included, Ma said, he would endorse the revised version.
Ma appreciated the president's concerns about regional affairs, but he said the issue should be settled by the legislature and the Cabinet.
"It is not possible to solve the disputes simply through talking with local administrators," he said.
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