Taipei Times
Date:  Sep 08, 2015
By: Chung Li-hua and Jake Chung  /  Staff reporter, with staff writer

Given the staggering amount of national debt, the legislature should pass laws to prevent “fat cat” politicians from benefiting from government subsidies for political campaigns, veteran political activist Shih Ming-te (施明德) said yesterday.

Shih, who is planning to run in January’s presidential election, said the subsidies have become an alternative source of income for many politicians, but that it is not right for taxpayers to have to fund these politicians every election.

President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) appears to have benefited the most from the subsidies, raking in NT$480 million (US$14.57 million at current exchange rates) from his participation in two Taipei mayoral elections and two presidential elections, while former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) ranked second with NT$380 million.     [FULL  STORY]