The legislature's National Defense Committee yesterday asked Veterans' Affairs Commission Minister Kao Hua-chu (高華柱) to stake his career on a bid to reverse a Cabinet proposal to review its medical aid to veterans.
"I do not understand the logic of the Cabinet officials and cannot agree with their stupid idea to carry out the policy," said People First Party Legislator Fu Kun-chi (
"The medical aid budget toward veterans only costs NT$400 million (US$12 million). I understand that the government is experiencing financial difficulties. But what they [officials] should do is try to figure out a way to help everybody make more money instead of cutting the budget to help minority groups," he said.
Fu made his remarks during the committee's meeting yesterday morning.
He said that the Cabinet's plan to cut the medical aid budget would affect more than 500,000 veterans and their family members. Kao, as a minister for the commission, is tasked with defending veterans issues and may have to gamble his career on the issue.
"If he cannot stop this, he will be expected to step down," Fu said.
"People come. People leave," Kao responded. "This case is not a done deal and the Cabinet has yet to approve the proposal. There is still a chance for us to stop it. If we fail, I will decide on an appropriate course of action."
Kao told lawmakers that the new policy to cut the budget would be funded by increasing veterans' down payments when they see a doctor.
The Cabinet is also planning to suspend the policy that unemployed veterans do not have to pay registration fees at clinics or hospitals. The new regulation was scheduled to come into force in April next year.
Kao said the commission was trying to negotiate with the Cabinet over the issue. He said that it was the commission's policy that current down payments should not be increased. In addition, free registration at veterans' hospitals or clinics for all veterans should remain.
"You have my word that I shall defend all veterans' benefits as long as I am the minister," Kao said.
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