A flood inspection tour in southern Taiwan turned into a political fight over budget cuts, with the ruling side blaming the opposition-controlled legislature for gutting flood-control money.

• Heavy rain on Aug. 22 flooded low-lying villages and farmland across Pingtung county.
• Premier Cho Jung-tai toured the damage after saying budget cuts had forced him to trim his schedule — a claim opposition lawmakers questioned.
• Pingtung county chief Chou Chun-mi backed him, asking why the legislature cut even the small budget for site inspections, and drew applause from farmers.
• She pushed back on claims the drainage works were shoddy, saying mountain areas got more than half a year's rain in five days and warning of possible landslides.
• Emergency repairs to the damaged Linluo drainage system go out to tender Sept. 1.

Outlook: Flood damage looks set to become a running fight between the central government and the legislature over who is starving disaster spending.