A number of lawmakers have demanded to be allotted official cars just like Control Yuan and Examination Yuan members, saying their social prestige and professional needs merit the prerogative.
As the request is bound to deepen the public's resentment of the legislature, lawmakers who favor the proposal all ask not to be named.
PFP legislative leader Shen Chih-hwei (沈智慧) said several of her colleagues from outside the Taipei area have complained about a dearth of official cars for their business trips to their constituencies.
She added that some have to pay for their taxi fares from their own pockets, which is costing them a significant amount of money.
"Personally, I don't think their complaint is baseless, given that all Control Yuan and Examination Yuan members enjoy their own official cars," Shen said.
Earlier, she asked aides to probe the number and distribution of official cars for all branches of the government.
Another lawmaker, speaking on condition of anonymity, shared Shen's view. He argued that the 225 legislators should be entitled to the same treatment, as the Legislative Yuan is not inferior to the Control Yuan or the Examination Yuan.
"Compared with Control Yuan and Examination Yuan members, lawmakers need official cars more as the latter need to cover more kilometers," he added.
With the economy in the doldrums, the request is bound to meet strong opposition from the public, which has frowned on the legislature's style of doing business.
Shen, aware of the political climate, said she wanted to know more about the distribution of official cars in the hope she may better review the government budget when the legislature convenes in September.
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