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🇹🇼 Taiwan /Elections & Politics

Lawmaker's fund freeze cancels vulnerable group orders, draws sharp criticism

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • A legislator's proposal to freeze presidential discretionary funds has forced the cancellation of planned purchases of gifts for vulnerable groups.
  • The cancellation has led to criticism from a youth association leader who accused lawmakers of being heartless and double-faced.
  • The legislator's constituency includes a sheltered workshop that will be affected by the canceled order, highlighting the local impact of the political decision.

A proposal by a legislator to freeze presidential discretionary funds has led to the cancellation of a planned order of gift boxes for 37 sheltered workshops and vulnerable groups, intended for the Mid-Autumn Festival. This move has drawn sharp criticism from Zhang Yumeng, chairman of the Taiwan Youth Generation Association for Common Prosperity, who accused lawmakers of being cold-blooded.

Blue and white parties, aren't you too cold-blooded?

— Zhang YumengCriticizing the lawmakers' decision to freeze funds.

The "Guanyin Love Home," one of the affected workshops, posted a plea stating their order from the Presidential Office was canceled due to the budget freeze. Zhang criticized the backlash the workshop faced online, noting they had not specifically named the legislator responsible. He argued that the workshop was unfairly targeted, especially since many beneficiaries of such programs are perceived as politically aligned.

Zhang highlighted that the "Guanyin Love Home" has been supporting the employment of people with disabilities for 20 years through baking training. He pointed out that the workshop is located in the constituency of legislator Tu Chuan-chi, who had previously visited and acknowledged the high operating costs faced by sheltered workshops. Tu had promised to discuss support for disabled individuals' care and employment with relevant ministries.

The order from the Presidential Office has evaporated, and 'Guanyin Love Home' is also being generous, not naming Weng Xiaoling at all.

— Zhang YumengDescribing the situation after the workshop faced online backlash.

Zhang accused Tu of hypocrisy, stating that Tu voted in favor of freezing the discretionary funds, which directly impacted the workshop's order. He described Tu as a "double-faced person" more frightening than the legislator who proposed the freeze. Zhang expressed frustration that the workshop was not allowed to speak out about the direct consequences of the budget cuts, questioning the lawmakers' actions in arbitrarily cutting budgets for vulnerable groups.

Why can't they say it? What is the blue and white party doing? Arbitrarily cutting budgets for the vulnerable and not allowing people to speak?

— Zhang YumengExpressing frustration over the backlash against the workshop.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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