Taiwan Legislator's Budget Cuts Spark Backlash, Discussion Avoided in Party Groups

A proposal by Kuomintang legislator Weng Hsiao-ling to freeze NT$30 million from the Presidential Office's discretionary fund has ignited significant public backlash. The move is particularly concerning as it directly impacts the orders of 37 sheltered workshops nationwide, which rely on such funding for their operations.

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Even in the blue (KMT) groups, they dare not mention this matter.

Despite the widespread criticism, even from within some factions of the KMT party, the issue appears to be a sensitive topic. Senior media personality Chen Min-feng revealed that discussions about Weng's proposal are being actively avoided in pro-KMT online forums. Chen observed that these groups are instead focusing on other political issues, such as flooding in Tainan and criticism of Premier Cho Jung-tai, deliberately sidestepping any mention of the controversial budget cut.

Chen suggested this avoidance indicates a sense of "guilt" or unease among party members regarding the proposal's implications. She pointed to Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen's recent acceptance of orders for public welfare mooncakes as a typical example of efforts to mitigate the negative fallout. This suggests a strategic move to counter the criticism by demonstrating support for similar social initiatives.

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If they thought this budget cut was good, everyone would praise it, but now the group is completely silent about it.

The controversy highlights a tension between fiscal austerity measures and social welfare support. Weng Hsiao-ling's proposal, while framed as a budgetary adjustment, has been interpreted by many as a disregard for the vulnerable populations served by the sheltered workshops, leading to the strong public and internal party reactions.

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This is a kind of guilt, so many people are rushing to remedy it. Mayor Lu Shiow-yen accepting public welfare mooncake orders is the most typical example.