KMT WIN:The DPP pushed for the funding for long-term care to come from an increase in inheritance and gift taxes, yet the bill seeks financing from tax hikes and other sources
Taipei Times
Date: May 16, 2015
By: Alison Hsiao / Staff reporter
The legislature yesterday passed a draft bill on long-term care services,
Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Chen Chieh-ju holds up a sign in the chamber of the legislature yesterday, stating that a long-term care policy without adequate funding is an empty gesture. Photo: Liu Hsin-de, Taipei Times
clearing the way for the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) proposals over the funding of long-term care to be written into law.
After eight cross-caucus negotiation sessions and a multitude of debates involving the KMT, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and civic groups, the bill finally passed after a controversial clause on the source of funding for the care services was put to a floor vote — considered a last resort for the passage of a bill.
The KMT-authored bill stipulates that funding should come from public coffers, health surcharges on tobacco, donations, interest from the fund and other sources, while the DPP called for an increase of inheritance and gift taxes. [FULL STORY]
