Culture budget for next year gets cut to the bone

The Legislature's Education and Culture Committee yesterday gave its go-ahead to the 2003 budget for the Cabinet-level Council for Cultural Affairs -- after some deep cuts -- saying the council has been ineffective in executing its duty.

After much cross-party negotiation, lawmakers on the committee decided to take NT$87 million from the council's projected spending of NT$5.5 billion, in addition to freezing miscellaneous outlays.

The bulk of the cuts, NT$70 million, was intended to promote folk activities on the township level.

Legislators had threatened to cut between NT$100 million and NT$200 million from the fund on grounds that the council had failed to explain clearly what the money was for.

Earlier, KMT lawmaker Lin Yi-shih (林益世) accused the council of seeking to help DPP Taipei mayoral candidate Lee Ying-yuan (李應元) win votes with the funds.

He noted that both Lee and President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) took part in an activity sponsored by the council earlier this month. Incumbent Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), however, was not invited.

PFP lawmaker Diane Lee (李慶安) echoed the view and suggested the disputed budget be set aside altogether.

TSU Legislator Chen Cheng-lung (程振隆), who earlier criticized cultural activities held in the Huasan area, also favored a cut.