 JCP Chair Shii demands a ban on political donations from companies Japanese Communist Party Executive Committee Chair Shii Kazuo on October 14 used his question time at the House of Representatives plenary session to demand that Prime Minister Koizumi Jun'ichiro deal appropriately with the following issues: Politics and money Concerning the scandal that a Liberal Democratic Party politician received a 100-billion yen check under the counter from an influential dentists' organization, Shii stressed the need to prohibit political donations from companies and other organizations in order to eliminate the political corruption that money can buy. Adversely-revised pension law Pointing out the fact that the revised pension law is based on miscalculations with regard to birthrates, Shii argued that the law should be suspended and that pension reform should be discussed from scratch. Nursing care insurance Taking up the problem that insurance premiums and service charges are too expensive for many elderly people to receive needed services, Shii requested that the government take measures to reduce or exempt the premiums and charges. Privatization of postal service Shii criticized the planned privatization of postal services that will sacrifice public services for the interest of the bank industry. Realignment of U.S. forces in Japan Concerning the realignment of the U.S. Forces in Japan, Shii called for the U.S. Marine Corps and strike brigades of U.S. aircraft carriers to be drastically reduced and eventually removed. (end) |