Decriminalization of State Affairs Funds Debated 國務機要費除罪化修法 藍綠爆推擠衝突

Conflicts broke out in the Legislature over the amendment regarding the usage of state affairs funds, which the KMT accused of being politically-motivated.

Kuomintang Legislator Chen Yu-jen and Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Wang Mei-hui got into a shoving match on the rostrum. The issue at stake was amendments to Article 99-1 of the Accounting Act, which decriminalizes the usage of state affairs funds. The legislature's Finance Committee reviewed the amendments on April 21 and parties mobilized their legislators to prepare for battle. The KMT said the DPP's motivation is to exonerate Chen Shui-bian.

Ker Chien-ming, Legislator (DPP): “Special allowance funds have already been decriminalized. State affairs funds should be as well. Special allowance funds are drawn from the state affairs fund. How can the son be not guilty while the mother is guilty?”

The New Power Party spoke out against the amendments, while the KMT began tossing fake money and fake gift certificates after the meeting started to mock Chen. It also asked for the meeting to be adjourned.

“The meeting should be adjourned, alright?”

The DPP managed to secure the rostrum and in the chaos, one of its legislators proposed ending the discussions and allowing the entire legislature to handle the matter. In the end, the DPP managed to use its majority to pass the first reading and adjourned the meeting at 9:13 a.m.

Shen Fa-hui, Legislator (DPP): “If there are no other opinions, then this meeting is adjourned.”

Jang Chyi-lu, Legislator (TPP): “It's a shame that there wasn't a rational and systematic discussion.”

William Tseng, Legislator (KMT): “If it's decriminalized, then NT$30 million to NT$50 million a year in state affairs funds could be misappropriated. They may be used to buy votes or support Internet armies.”

The KMT continued to protest the illegality and unconstitutionality of the amendments, while the DPP insisted that special allowance funds and state affairs funds be treated the same and decriminalized so that the constitutional principle of equality won't be violated. Party caucuses will need to discuss the draft bill before it's sent to the entire legislature.

國民黨立委陳玉珍和民進黨立委王美惠在主席台上推擠成一團，激烈拉扯甚至一度摔倒在地，就是為了攸關國務機要費除罪化的會計法第99條之1條文修正草案，今日在立院財委會續審，朝野黨團清晨就甲級動員，國民黨團質疑為了陳水扁脫罪，不顧防疫。

民進黨團總召柯建銘表示：「特別費已經除罪化了，國務機要費更應該除罪化，特別費是從國務機要衍伸出去，怎麼兒子沒有罪，母親會有罪。」

時代力量黨團也表達反對立場，國民黨團則在9時會議開始後，開始撒假鈔跟假禮券諷刺陳水扁，期間並要求立即散會。

「要求散會好不好？」

不過沈發惠仍順利搶佔主席台，混亂中民進黨立委郭國文提案停止討論，全案保留到院會處理，綠營以人數優勢表決通過，9時13分沈發惠宣告審查完竣並且散會。

民進黨立委沈發惠說：「假如沒有其他意見，本次會議在此宣告散會。」

民眾黨立委張其祿指出：「沒有進行比較理性的程序性討論，是比較可惜的部分。國民黨團總召曾銘宗則說，除罪化以後，每一年有3千萬到5千萬的國務機要費可能會亂用，可能會拿去賄選，可能會拿去養網軍。」

國民黨團持續抗議，高喊民主之恥違法違憲，審查無效。民進黨團則重申國務機要費跟特別費都應除罪化，不該違反憲法平等原則，而會計法修正草案送立法院會處理前，必須交由黨團協商，勢必還會有一番激烈討論。