More funds for better livelihoods

The Japanese Communist Party on February 23 demanded a re-compilation of the FY 2004 national budget starting in April so that more tax money will be used for people's better livelihoods and the nation's economic recovery by cutting down on wasteful expenditures.

The JCP has proposed slashing wasteful public works projects and defense expenses, and suspending tax cuts for large corporations and wealthy persons.

At a press conference, JCP Secretariat Head Ichida Tadayoshi stated, "The government insists that 'the economy has steadily been recovering.' But people's livelihoods still remain terrible. Without their livelihoods improving, Japan's economy, as a whole, won't improve."

He also said, "The government should immediately stop dispatching the Self-Defense Forces to Iraq and cancel the 13.5 billion yen earmarked for the dispatch." (end)