TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Taiwan Economic Democracy Union (台灣經濟民主連合) urged legislators Monday (Oct. 13) to redirect NT$34.5 billion (around US$1.1 billion) in unallocated tax funds toward comprehensive social welfare programs nationwide. The advocacy group held a press conference at the Legislative Yuan, Taiwan's parliament, demanding immediate legislative fixes to address a critical formula error that prevented proper fund distribution across the country.
Lai Chung-chiang (賴中強), the union's convener, proposed specific amendments to rectify the fiscal allocation formula error affecting billions in tax revenue distribution. He urged the president to convene a comprehensive national fiscal conference with central, county, and township government leaders plus representatives from various sectors. Lai called for extensive debates on funding distribution mechanisms and tax reform to strengthen Taiwan's overall fiscal strategy.
The union addressed opposition legislators' ongoing push for comprehensive public sector pension reform, advocating for carefully structured pilot programs nationwide. They urged the Legislative Yuan, Taiwan's parliament, and all government levels to initiate relief-based basic pension trials with proper oversight mechanisms. The group emphasized full implementation should occur only after identifying stable, long-term funding sources to ensure program sustainability.
The Executive Yuan, Taiwan's cabinet, engaged local governments in comprehensive September discussions about the fiscal allocation law and related budgetary issues. Finance Minister Chuang Tsui-yun (莊翠雲) confirmed a critical denominator error prevented distributing NT$34.5 billion (around US$1.1 billion) in allocated tax funds nationwide. She emphasized legislative amendments are absolutely essential since the central government cannot legally repurpose these funds without proper legal changes. ◼
