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Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

Keidanren encourages political donations to promote more pro-business policies

The Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren) on November 8 published a 10-point policy priority list, including a consumption tax rate increase in FY 2007. It encourages its member companies to use the list as a guideline for donating money to political parties.

This annual list indicates Nippon Keidanren's attempt to use political donations as a lever to have political parties compete with each other to carry out pro-business policies "fearlessly and rapidly" (Nippon Keidanren Chairman Okuda Hiroshi).

In the category titled, "Tax and finance system reform," the list calls for cuts in salaries of national and local government employees. It also demanded a tax reform in order to "increase corporate vitality to promote research, development, and IT investment," indicating a continuation and expansion of corporate tax deductions for research and development.

Concerning "deregulation and market liberalization" policies, Nippon Keidanren urged political parties to submit to the ordinary Diet session in 2006 a bill to introduce a bidding system for government contracts.

Under "Diplomacy and security," the list stresses the need to "further strengthen the Self-Defense Forces' activities with the aim of revising the Constitution," and "revise laws related to international cooperation." -- Akahata, November 9, 2005