JCP Shii: Government has no idea other than making people pay extra 3 trillion yen

Fiscal 2003 will be when people will have to pay an extra 3.24 trillion yen for four social services, including 1.5 trillion yen for the adversely revised medical insurance system.

"How will it affect the Japanese economy?" was what Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo asked Prime Minister Koizumi Jun'ichiro in a one-on-one debate in the House of Representatives on July 17.

Prime Minister Koizumi said that a fiscal viewpoint is essential, but he was unable to give possible effects of the increased burden on the people.

In forms of increased insurance premiums and cuts in benefits in the 4 social services, a breakdown of the 3.24 trillion yen is as follows: medical insurance 1.5 trillion yen, nursing care insurance 210 billion yen, pension insurance 920 billion yen, and employment insurance 600 billion yen.

In the exchange Shii said, "Social services are designed to help people when they are in difficulties. Now the burden to receive the services in the first place is causing them difficulties. The increase in the burdens coincides with the loss of people's income due to corporate restructuring and business failures and the depressed rate of personal consumption. If the people are made to pay an extra sum of over 3 trillion yen, what will happen to the economy?"

In 1997, the Hashimoto Cabinet carried out an increase of 9 trillion yen on the people, but the net burden was 4 trillion yen, as there was an increase of 5 trillion yen in the people's income.

Shii said that this time the increased burden coincides with the loss of 2 trillion yen a year in people's incomes due to the economic recession, and the net burden on the people will be a record 5 trillion yen. He demanded that the government withdraw the policy because it will create a vicious circle of a loss of national revenue and further increase in burdens.

At a news conference on the day, Shii said, "The prime minister is imposing a burden of 3 trillion yen without understanding the economic situation." He added, "In my parliamentary debate with Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto, my question was at least answered. This time I had no answer from Prime Minister Koizumi. This gives me the impression that political decay and crisis have deepened." (end)