New Power Party (NPP) legislative candidate Hung Tzu-yung (洪慈庸) yesterday promised that she would resign if she was to receive poor ratings from Citizen Congress Watch (CCW) — assuming she is elected — the first candidate ever to make such a vow.
“For a representative of the people, the most basic of requirements is receiving a passing grade [in the group’s ratings],” she said, speaking at CCW headquarters in Taipei.
The congress assigns lawmakers grades after each legislative session based on a formula that factors in attendance rates, number of bills sponsored and the amount of funds frozen or cut during the budget review process.
Photo: Wang Min-wei, Taipei Times
Lists of the best and worst performers are published biannually, with 18 lawmakers receiving a “fail” this year, including Hung’s opponent, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Yang Chung-ying (楊瓊瓔).
Yang has represented Taichung’s third district since 2008.
Hung also promised to publicize a daily journal of her itinerary if elected, as well as holding regular information sessions in her district and explaining legislation to the public.
“I want to make voters clear about what I am doing and why,” she said.
“If I do not do a good job, I am willing to resign to take responsibility,” she added.
Hung said she wanted to promise more than just “voter services,” adding that she hopes to put energy into legislation, cross-examining officials and reviewing national budgets.
These issues — not “voter services” — are what should demand more of a lawmaker’s time, she said.
CCW executive director Chang Hung-lin (張宏林) said that Hung was the first legislative candidate to promise to resign if they receive a “fail” rating, adding that he hopes other candidates would make similar pledges.
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