Politics

ROC Cabinet gears up for new legislative session

The ROC Legislative Yuan is set to review 53 bills put forward by the Cabinet during this session. (CNA)

• Publication Date：02/24/2012
• Source： Taiwan Today
• By  Grace Kuo

The ROC Cabinet will shortly submit 53 priority draft bills to the Legislature for review, Premier Sean C. Chen said Feb. 23, one day before the start of the new legislative session.

The proposed bills address a wide range of issues, ranging from public debt to carbon emissions, from the merging of financial institutions to the division of administrative power.

“These proposed acts and amendments reflect some of the most important policy objectives of this Cabinet, such as taking care of the underprivileged, maintaining social security, protecting human rights and pushing for financial reforms,” Chen said.

According to Chen, the bills on administrative division and public debt address problems that arose after four new administrative districts—the special municipalities of New Taipei, Taichung, Tainan and Kaohsiung—were created at the end of 2010.

One of the proposed amendments increases sources of income for local governments; another helps narrow the divide between urban and rural areas; while a third addresses income inequality.

According to Chen, revisions to the public debt act will create a debt alert mechanism for local governments.

On the environmental protection front, the wetlands draft act touches upon issues such as the management and uses of wetlands, while the greenhouse gas reduction draft act provides strategies for cutting greenhouse gas emissions and relevant mechanisms.

“We hope the proposed bills can be debated and ratified quickly and smoothly,” Chen said. (HZW)

Write to Grace Kuo at morningk@mail.gio.gov.tw