TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) addressed the Legislative Yuan on Tuesday (July 2), responding to Kuomintang (KMT) Legislator Hsieh Yi-fong's (謝衣鳯) query about tax revenues exceeding the budgetary amount by NT$147.9 billion till May this year, emphasizing the need to first cover deficits and repay debts before discussing the use of surplus revenues.
Finance Minister Chuang Tsui-yun (莊翠雲) stated that the tax collection till May was satisfactory, meeting budget targets. However, the exact amount of over-collection remains undetermined.
When Hsieh asked about using surplus tax revenues, including possibly providing free health insurance for residents over 65 in counties outside the six municipalities, Cho said there would be a gap between the pre-collected and actual amounts. He suggested covering this gap, repaying debts, and then discussing usage.
Hsieh questioned whether President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) intended to amend the Act Governing the Allocation of Government Revenues and Expenditures, to which Cho responded that the Legislative Yuan was already discussing it. He pointed out that central subsidies to local authorities have increased by NT$340 billion.
In addition, Hsieh queried whether Cho had plans to introduce incentive policies through household registration units for unmarried youths of marriageable age or couples who had been married for many years without children. Cho explained his hopes to use AI technology to promote policy advocacy and incentive measures.
Addressing concerns about balancing the use of AI and respecting citizens' privacy, Cho advocated for a democratic AI, an AI that does not infringe on human rights, and an AI with democratic literacy.
Central Bank Governor Yang Chin-long (楊金龍) responded to Hsieh's question about whether the United States (美國) Federal Reserve would cut interest rates in September. Yang acknowledged market expectations of a potential rate cut in the U.S. in the second half of the year.
When asked whether Taiwan's central bank would follow suit, Yang stated that interest rate adjustments would be decided by the board of directors, and Taiwan would decide based on international and domestic situations. He noted that Taiwan's inflation rate is around 2%, and the economic growth this year is better than the last, showing a slight recovery.