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Lawmakers bloody and bruised after budget brawl

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Chen Chao-jung, left, grapples with Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Chen Hsien-chung in the legislature's Organic Laws and Statutes Committee after the two disagreed during a review of part of the Ministry of Civil Service's budget for last year. PHOTO: LIU HSIN-DE, TAIPEI TIMES

Two lawmakers were left with facial injuries yesterday after a quarrel over a budget issue turned violent.

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Chen Chao-jung (陳朝容) punched Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Chen Hsien-chung (陳憲中) in the legislature's Organic Laws and Statutes Committee. The two lawmakers began grappling with each other, and were twice briefly interrupted when they were pulled apart by other lawmakers.

After the scuffle, Chen Chao-jung's eyes appeared red and swollen, while Chen Hsien-chung was left with scratches and blood beneath his right eye and near the corners of his mouth.

The committee had gathered to review part of the Ministry of Civil Service's budget for last year, which has been frozen for a year by pan-blue lawmakers in the committee.

Speaking in opposition to the ministry's request to release the budget, Chen Chao-jung said that the ministry had actually implemented the budget without the legislature's consent.

"I urged the committee not to unfreeze the budget, as the ministry totally disregarded the legislature's resolution to freeze the budget," Chen Chao-jung said.

"How could you be so defiant? You are the wildest lawmaker in the legislature!"

Chen Hsien-chung, DPP legislator

Chen Hsien-chung then walked up to Chen Chao-jung and shouted at him: "How could you be so defiant? You are the wildest lawmaker in the legislature!"

Although Chen Chao-jung started the scuffle, he said that Chen Hsien-chung had attacked him with "unwholesome words."

Later yesterday, the committee decided to keep the budget frozen until lawmakers reach consensus on the bill to reform the pension system for retired government employees.
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