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KMT caucus blocks
Cabinet proposal
NO SECURITIES TAX: Despite President Ma, the
Cabinet and Minister of Finance Liu pushing the tax amendment, the KMT caucus
went against their wishes in delaying it
By Shih Hsiu-chuan and Chris Wang / Staff reporters
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)
Legislator Tuan Yi-kang, left, DPP caucus whip Ker Chien-ming, second left, and
others attend a press conference at the legislature yesterday.
Photo: Chang Chia-ming, Taipei Times
The Executive Yuan yesterday suffered a
setback to a major policy for a second consecutive day when Chinese Nationalist
Party (KMT) legislators refused to place on the legislative agenda an amendment
imposing taxes on income earned from securities.
On behalf of the KMT caucus, KMT Legislator Wu Yu-sheng (吳育昇) proposed delaying
review of the amendment at the legislature’s Procedure Committee meeting, which
-determined items on the agendas of the plenary session for Friday and Tuesday
next week.
“I think we have neither the ability nor the willingness [to review the tax
bill]; we have been so bogged down on the US beef issue. We do what we can do
within our capabilities. We are brave enough to hold off on placing the [tax
bill] on the agenda. Let’s leave it to the next session,” Wu said.
On Monday, a government--proposed amendment seeking to conditionally relax a ban
on imports of beef containing residue of the feed additive ractopamine was voted
down in a preliminary review because KMT Legislator Cheng Ju-fen (鄭汝芬) absented
herself from the vote for the sake of “public health.”
Wu, who has been labeled a loyal soldier of President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九),
yesterday said the “KMT caucus will not do whatever the executive branch wants
the caucus to do from now on.”
“The caucus will act at our discretion if the executive branch fails to
communicate with lawmakers before a major policy is made,” Wu said.
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Tuan Yi-kang (段宜康), the rotating
chair of the committee, did not put Wu’s motion to a vote, warranting a vote at
the plenary session on Friday to decide on the matter.
With one month left before the legislative session enters the summer recess, it
appears unlikely that the amendments to the Income Tax Act (所得稅法) and the Income
Basic Tax Act (所得基本稅額條例) will clear the legislative floor this session.
“Reinstating a securities tax was not on the Executive Yuan’s list of priority
bills for this session. Now, Minister of Finance Christina Liu (劉憶如) can sit
down and talk about the policy with lawmakers during the recess period,” Wu
said.
KMT caucus whip Lin Hung-chih (林鴻池) said it was not necessary to put the issue
on the legislative agenda because “it would only disrupt the stock market and
unsettle investors.”
“This session is going into recess. We will not be able to review the policy
until November,” he said, adding that his caucus did not inform Premier Sean
Chen and Liu before it blocked the bills.
The DPP described the development as a constitutional crisis and demanded that
Ma, Chen and Liu step down. If Ma does not dismiss Chen after his second
inauguration on May 20, the DPP would propose a vote of no-confidence, DPP whip
Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) said.
“Chen and Liu should resign to take responsibility for their failed policy and
Ma should apologize to the public because his re-election has been the worst
disaster that could happen to this country,” Ker said.
From the US beef controversy to the securities tax, it has been clear that Ma’s
own party comrades do not support his policies, he said.
The public has paid a high price for Ma’s inconsistent policies and Ma, who
pledged tax reform, seems to be “beating up his right hand with his left hand,”
Tuan said.
Liu refused to comment about the issue yesterday, while a ministry official said
the ministry would communicate with lawmakers before the legislative meeting on
Friday, while saying it still hoped lawmakers would add the bill to this
legislative session.
Additional reporting by staff writer
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