budget vote

Defense Minister Wellington Koo is continuing to press lawmakers to pass the
Cabinet's special defense bill ...

... arguing that waiting for the U-S to issue a letter of acceptance for
weapons sales to Taiwan before lawmakers approve the special defense budget
will result in serious timing problems.

According to Koo, letters of acceptance are only valid for 45 days and arms
procurement cases normally take more than two years to negotiate, and the
defense ministry only submits budget items after confirming a U-S willingness
to supply the requested items.

Koo says requiring such letters from Washington prior to reviewing the
defense budget is impractical ...

.. as if budgets and procurement items are not reviewed in advance, but are
rushed through only after an a letter of acceptance is received, it
effectively results in a "blank check."

Legislative party caucuses yesterday once again failed to reach a consensus
on budget items and amounts for the special defense bill.

However, Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu says he still remains hopeful that
lawmakers will be able to vote on the bill by tomorrow at the latest.