Taiwan Opposition's Budget Hike for Student Loans, School Lunches Criticized as Unconstitutional

A contentious legislative battle is unfolding in Taiwan's Legislative Yuan over proposed amendments concerning student loans and school lunches. Opposition lawmakers from the Kuomintang (KMT) have put forward proposals that would significantly increase the Ministry of Education's budget by NT$63.8 billion.

KMT legislators are pushing for amendments that would allocate an additional NT$50 billion to student loans and NT$13.8 billion to school lunches. This move has drawn sharp criticism from ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislator Wu Si-yao. She argues that the KMT's actions constitute unconstitutional legislative overreach, effectively turning the Legislative Yuan into an administrative body.

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If the legislative amendments are passed as proposed, forcing the Ministry of Education to foot the bill for an additional NT$63.8 billion, it would be an unconstitutional legislative act by the KMT, and the nation would collapse.

Wu Si-yao contends that the proposed amendments would force the Ministry of Education to find substantial funds to cover these increased costs. She points out that the government is already expanding student loan support and that many local governments have already announced free school lunch programs following adjustments to the fiscal revenue allocation act. Wu believes that adding such a significant financial burden through legislative amendment is inappropriate and could destabilize the nation's finances.

The KMT's convenor, Luo Ting-wei, acknowledged that the DPP's proposals were not scheduled for discussion, but he countered that the DPP had also previously disregarded KMT proposals. The dispute highlights a deep political divide over fiscal responsibility and the legislative process, with both sides accusing the other of procedural impropriety.

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The KMT's legislative amendments to the fiscal revenue allocation act have already caused the central government to lose over NT$400 billion and the Ministry of Education to lose over NT$80 billion. Where will the Ministry of Education find the money?