The allowance for veteran farmers is increased to 15,000 yuan per month. The Democratic Progressive Party Group: unnecessary political increase is an obstacle to the payment.

Chen Peiyu, deputy secretary-general of the Democratic Progressive Party Group of the Legislative Yuan. (File photo)

This afternoon, the Legislative Yuan passed the third reading of the amendment to the "Interim Regulations on Welfare Subsidies for Elderly Farmers" with the blue-white numerical advantage, increasing the monthly subsidy to NT$15,000 for senior farmers. The additional subsidy for senior farmers will be retroactively effective from July 1 this year. Chen Peiyu, deputy secretary-general of the Democratic Progressive Party, said that the opposition party’s version not only failed to discuss it with the Executive Yuan, but also did not care about fiscal discipline. It even ignored the possibility of raising debt and leaving debt to future generations, which might crowd out other budgets, which is very regrettable. She appealed that if we sincerely care for farmers, we should not just add unnecessary political weight to political calculations and become an obstacle to actual distribution.

Chen Peiyu said that the Executive Yuan proposed a very responsible version, increasing the quota to 10,000 yuan per month, and adjusting the relevant wealth exclusion standards so that more farmers can be taken care of. However, the opposition party’s version not only fails to discuss it with the Executive Yuan, does not care about fiscal discipline, and even ignores the possibility of borrowing and borrowing for future generations, which may crowd out other budget possibilities, such as related agricultural irrigation, industrial transformation, agricultural insurance, youth return home, and even care for other vulnerable groups.

Chen Peiyu pointed out that in the past two years, after President Lai Ching-te took office, whether it was the budget allocations of PetroChina and Taipower, in order to stabilize prices and prevent everyone from being affected by rising prices, there were also health insurance expenditures, national pension expenditures, and childcare subsidies. The state worked together to take care of our children. Others include tuition subsidies for college students and rental subsidies for young people. All benefits are designed to provide better living care for each age group with different life experiences. Even in the new year's budget, President Lai has proposed that AI dividends be shared by everyone and everyone will receive a universal fund of 10,000 yuan.

Chen Peiyu said, but we have seen that the Blue and White parties do not discuss fiscal rationality, do not discuss long-term expenditures, and may even leave debts to their children and may borrow money. Of course, there is no way to accept this version. We also call on the opposition parties to think carefully again. The version you proposed is unwilling to discuss with the Executive Yuan, and is not even willing to consider fiscal discipline. It is really very regrettable. If we sincerely care for farmers, we should not just add unnecessary political weight to political calculations and become an obstacle to actual distribution.