chairman, is holding intensive meetings from Jan. 17 to Jan. 23 with party legislators to exchange views on the Local Government Act. During a gathering at the Presidential Office on Jan. 17, Ma asked party lawmakers to support a new KMT-initiated version of amendments to the Local Government Act to pave the way for the creation of four new municipalities. Because of a Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus boycott, the bill failed to clear the legislature before it went into recess on Jan. 12. Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng is scheduled to call an informal session Monday to decide whether and when to hold an extraordinary session to deal with the KMT proposal. The following are excerpts from local media coverage of the issue: United Daily News: During the Jan. 17 meeting, Ma patted Wang on the shoulder while asking him to help push the bill in a planned provisional legislative session. At the same time, Wang asked the Executive Yuan to come up with promotional literature to publicize the KMT version of the amendments to the Local Government Act before the special legislative session. Wang also presented his three principles: all resolutions approved by the legislature should be in line with public opinion, the ruling KMT caucus must make a decision, and all party lawmakers should work together and promote any resolutions reached by the KMT caucus. The KMT and the DPP are still divided over proposed local government changes. The KMT has proposed that elected township chiefs in four new special municipalities be reappointed as district chiefs for four more years, while the DPP wants to see suitable district chiefs appointed by the new mayors of the municipalities that will be formed at the end of this year. The KMT version has gained widespread support among party lawmakers. For example, Legislator Lo Shu-lei, who has been openly critical of the KMT administration, said during the meeting that she will back the KMT proposal. However, Legislator Huang Chao-shun said further discussions will be needed during the proposed extraordinary session on Jan. 18. (Jan. 18, 2010) China Times: After the gathering, KMT legislator Lee Ching-hua said that Ma told him he would be happy to give a report to the legislature if asked to do so. On the same occasion, Ma tried hard to clear up some misunderstandings about his policies. For example, the KMT chairman explained that he has said the KMT plans to close its businesses but never said it would sell all of its assets, according to Lee. Ma also denied allegations that the KMT leadership wants to eliminate local factions, saying that his appointment of Liao Feng-teh as minister of the interior, was evidence that there was no truth to that claim. Liao, who has since passed away, was from a local faction in Taichung County, Ma noted. Meanwhile, KMT legislators raised issues at the forefront of the public's mind. Legislator Lo Shu-lei urged Ma to devise strategies to offset the possible negative impact of a trade pact with China on individual industries and unemployment. (Jan. 18, 2010) Liberty Times: Because of the lack of communication between government agencies and the Legislative Yuan, several KMT lawmakers took the opportunity to complain to the president about the arrogance of some government officials, sources close to the meeting said Monday. Some party legislators also expressed dissatisfaction with a raft of government policies, including a controversial amendment to a food safety law banning imports of certain beef products from the United States, the national H1N1 vaccination program that has given rise to fears over side effects, and recent hikes in petroleum, electricity and commodity prices, according to the sources. In response, Ma said he will authorize Vice Premier Eric Liluan Chu to form a task force in an effort to formulate measures to stabilize commodity prices, particularly bulk commodities. In addition, he promised that the Presidential Office will arrange at least one meeting a month with KMT legislators, Cabinet ministers, party secretary-general and party officials, the sources added. (Jan. 18, 2010) 