A political blame game has broken out over Kaohsiung's flood damage, with the central government saying budget cuts tied its hands and the opposition saying the money is already there — bad news for flood victims waiting on help.

• Premier Cho Jung-tai said cuts by the legislature left him unable to tour the disaster zone.
• Kuomintang Kaohsiung mayoral candidate Ko Chih-en fired back that the cabinet can skip the visit but must still send resources.
• She pointed to flood-control funds, disaster reserves, and a second reserve fund already approved, plus a large early-spending package cleared in March.
• Homes are flooded and farms and fisheries are damaged, and residents want drainage, roads, and compensation — not finger-pointing.

Outlook: Expect the funding fight to keep escalating as Kaohsiung's mayoral race heats up and the next round of rain tests the government's response.