Sat, Jan 14, 2023 page2

• Legislature extends sixth session on budget plans

  PUBLIC INTEREST: The session was extended for the second time to consolidate this year’s general budget, as well as plans to distribute a tax surplus to individuals

  • By Jake Chung / Staff writer, with CNA
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  The Legislative Yuan yesterday extended the sixth legislative session to Thursday next week in a bid to handle a plan to distribute a tax surplus from last year and to work on the federal budget for fiscal 2023.

  An agreement to extend the session for a second time was reached during cross-caucus negotiations led by Legislative Speaker You Si-kun (游錫堃).

  Previous inter-caucus discussions on Dec. 15 last year saw all parties agree to extend the sitting to yesterday to conclude all deliberations on the general budget.

  

  Democratic Progressive Party caucus whip Ker Chien-ming, center, speaks to reporters at the legislature in Taipei yesterday.

  Photo: CNA

  The Executive Yuan on Thursday approved a draft plan to allocate an estimated NT$380 billion (US$12.51 billion) in surplus tax revenue from last year across nine different categories, including cash handouts to citizens and some foreign residents, the labor and health insurance funds, Taiwan Power Co and public transportation.

  After the legislature finalizes the plan, the Executive Yuan must send a separate funding proposal for legislative approval before the funds can be distributed.

  Due to the administrative procedures, the proposed one-time NT$6,000 handout from surplus tax revenue would not be issued before the Lunar New Year holiday.

  The version of the bill proposed by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus suggests offering a cash handout of NT$10,000 instead.

  After deliberations yesterday, KMT caucus whip William Tseng (曾銘宗) said it wished to prioritize the special budget bill during the extended session.

  The KMT decision shows that it supports the government’s mission of stabilizing the economy, as stated in the Executive Yuan’s special budget, Tseng said, adding that the party supported cash handouts to relieve strains caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

  KMT caucus secretary-general Lee De-wei (李德維) said the party’s decision was due to the special funding being “very inclusive” in its expenditure proposals.

  However, Taiwan People’s Party Legislator Chiu Chen-yuan (邱臣遠) said that his party wished to prioritize the review of the general budget, stating that the special fund’s expenditure items were too broad to be included as a “package deal” during discussions.

  The act should not become a “pork barrel” policy, and it must be carefully discussed, Chiu said.

  New Power Party Legislator Chiu Hsien-chih (邱顯智) said his party hopes to expedite the passage of the special budget, adding that due procedure must be observed.

  Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus whip Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) said that Tseng’s proposal to prioritize discussion of the special budget was a “political machination,” as he has seen that the DPP is having difficulty instituting a Cabinet reshuffle.

  Ker urged the KMT to prioritize public interests and said that if pressed, the DPP is willing to hold unprecedented sessions to discuss the special budget.

  Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) called on the Legislative Yuan to finish reviewing the bill as soon as possible.

  Asked about media reports on a possible Cabinet reshuffle, Su said that he had discussed the issue with President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), who said that she would announce any changes after the current legislative session ends.
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