JCP criticizes Osaka governor’s financial reconstruction plan at the cost of public well-being

Japan Press Weekly

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

JCP criticizes Osaka governor’s financial reconstruction plan at the cost of public well-being

The Japanese Communist Party in Osaka is confronting Osaka Prefectural Governor Hashimoto Toru over his financial reconstruction plan that will continue large-scale development projects at the expense of Osaka residents’ well-being.

On July 7, JCP representative Miyahara Takeshi in an Osaka Prefectural Assembly plenary session took the floor and demanded that the governor cancel the plan to help promote large-scale public works projects by cutting expenditures on welfare, medical, and educational services.

Miyahara said the governor’s plan will add to the difficulties on the part of the Osaka residents through substantial cutbacks in public funding for private schools and in medical subsidy programs for the handicapped, the elderly, infants and single-parent families, and curtailment of subsidies to disabled people’s organizations.

He also demanded that the governor withdraw the plan to reduce the funding for cultural facilities, including the International Institute for Children’s Literature, and for part-time teachers at prefecture-run schools by stressing the important roles they are playing.

Governor Hashimoto conceded that these are necessary but refused the JCP representative’s demand for changes in his plan on the grounds that Osaka has enormous financial difficulties and declared that he will push ahead with policies for the promotion of industries in the interest of large corporations.

Hashimoto also said that large public works projects “are necessary,” including the “new town” projects, which are already under way, the construction and improvement of expressways, which are not necessary for meeting the present traffic conditions, and the construction of a dam which will be ineffective for flood control.

More than 3 million Osaka residents out of a population of about 8.8 million have so far signed the petition calling for the defense of the existing public services such as subsidies to private schools and to disabled people’s organizations, and the existence of cultural facilities.

Governor Hashimoto, however, has turned his back on these public calls and abandoned the duty of the Prefectural government to defend the well-being of the public. He instead is trying to turn Osaka into an engine to promote policies that please the business community and large corporations.

- Akahata, July 8, 2008