FLAWED:A former national policy adviser warned the government about ignoring critics, saying that without proper checks and balances, it risks becoming an autocracy
Taipei Times
Date: Jul 12, 2017
By: Chen Wei-han / Staff reporter
The government has created a legal loophole in the Forward-looking Infrastructure
Former national policy adviser Rex How, right, and Academia Sinica sociologist Chiu Hei-yuan attend a news conference in Taipei yesterday, warning of flaws in the government’s Forward-looking Infrastructure Development Program. Photo: Peter Lo, Taipei Times
Development Program by rushing it through, allowing it to raise the program’s budget indefinitely, publisher and former national policy adviser Rex How (郝明義) said yesterday, calling for an amendment and an overhaul of the program.
There is no sunset clause in the Special Act on the Forward-looking Infrastructure Development Program (前瞻基礎建設特別條例), nor is there any clause specifying a budget cap, How said.
The act does not specify an end date and while it stipulates a four-year maximum budget of NT$420 billion (US$13.73 billion), which can be extended following legislative approval, there is no clear limitation on the timing and budget extension, How said. [FULL STORY]
