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Mayor Criticizes Lawmakers' Budget Cuts, Pledges City Funds for Sheltered Workshops

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen criticized the blue-white legislative coalition for cutting the "Presidential Office's State Affairs Fund," impacting mid-autumn festival mooncake orders for 37 sheltered workshops.
  • Lu framed the budget cut as the "Presidential Office abandoning orders" and pledged that Taichung would "take over the orders" using city funds.
  • Critics argue this move, while appearing to support local businesses, is essentially the mayor using public funds to cover for a legislative blunder, a tactic previously seen with other politicians.

Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen has strongly criticized the blue-white legislative coalition for its decision to freeze and cut the "Presidential Office's State Affairs Fund." This budget reduction has directly affected the mid-autumn festival mooncake orders for 37 sheltered workshops across the country.

Lu has repeatedly characterized the situation as the "Presidential Office abandoning orders," emphasizing the impact on vulnerable workers. She announced that Taichung would step in to fulfill these orders, utilizing the city's budget. This move positions the mayor as a savior for the affected workshops, seemingly prioritizing local welfare over central government actions.

Presidential Office abandoning orders

— Lu Shiow-yenMayor Lu's framing of the legislative budget cut's impact on sheltered workshops.

However, the mayor's response has drawn criticism. Some observers view her actions as a political maneuver, allowing her to claim credit for "having merit with the central government while achieving success in Taichung." This strategy, they argue, involves using public funds to rectify a problem created by the legislative bloc, a move likened to "the three sons causing trouble, and the mother cleaning up the mess." The implication is that while the mayor is using city funds to "buy peace," it contrasts with other politicians who might not have the same financial resources.

Taichung taking over the orders

— Lu Shiow-yenMayor Lu's pledge to use city funds to fulfill mooncake orders affected by the budget cut.
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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