'Koizumi Reform' burdens people with extra 4 trillion yen

Criticized by the Japanese Communist Party for proposing a supplementary budget that would force the people to pay an extra 4 trillion yen for social services, Prime Minister Koizumi Jun'ichiro replied that the JCP was exaggerating the possible additional burden.

That was on January 21 in the House of Representatives.

On the following day, in the House of Councilors, a JCP member cited specific figures to show the additional burden people will have to shoulder. Koizumi was unable to retort as he had done on the previous day.

At the Upper House plenary session, Miyaoto Takeshi of the JCP showed that Koizumi's plan to cut welfare services and increase taxes will force the people to pay an extra 4.3 trillion yen, and warned that it will hurt the Japanese economy.

Koizumi now admitted the accuracy of the JCP's estimate but said, "No need to consider the impact on the economy." (end)