TAICHUNG (TVBS News)—Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕) addressed the ongoing central government 2025 budget controversy on Thursday (Feb. 6), expressing hopes that the government will do more as this year's budget reaches a historic high.
Lu, a former chair of the Finance Committee (財政委員會), noted that the budget has never surpassed NT$2.9 trillion. She stated, "The government should be able to do more things. It would be a bit troublesome if they are not capable of doing anything with such a budget."
Legislators slashed more than NT$207.5 billion from the central government's budget, yet the total remains at a record high of over NT$2.9 trillion. Despite the cuts, government departments claim they lack funds, leading to a partial shutdown of operations. In response, some Kuomintang (KMT, 國民黨) regional legislators face recall threats.
In light of the budget debate, the KMT plans to extend the operation of nuclear power plants and shift from a nuclear-free to a carbon-free homeland. Lu highlighted the environmental impact of the Taichung Power Plant (台中火力發電廠), the nation's largest, which contributes to severe air pollution in central Taiwan. She urged the government to adopt a correct energy policy, ensuring adequate, affordable, and safe electricity while protecting public health.