June 14, 2012
More than 15 million people have signed a petition opposing a bill to increase the consumption tax, a director of an organization conducting the signature campaign announced on June 13.
“The number of signatures is increasing by more than 100,000 a day. That shows how strong the opposition to the tax hike is,” stressed the director.
On the same day, many speakers expressed criticism and objection to the bill at a public hearing held by the House of Representatives special committee on an “integrated reform” of social services and the tax system.
Even Kaetsu University Professor Takahashi Youichi who was the brains behind the LDP-Komei government, said “Just as the European Union austerity plan is facing public opposition, Japan should refrain from raising the consumption tax rate.”
Economic critic Jounen Tsukasa opposed the plan by saying that a rise in the consumption tax rate will not contribute to an increase in tax revenues because Japan is in a period of economic deflation.
“The number of signatures is increasing by more than 100,000 a day. That shows how strong the opposition to the tax hike is,” stressed the director.
On the same day, many speakers expressed criticism and objection to the bill at a public hearing held by the House of Representatives special committee on an “integrated reform” of social services and the tax system.
Even Kaetsu University Professor Takahashi Youichi who was the brains behind the LDP-Komei government, said “Just as the European Union austerity plan is facing public opposition, Japan should refrain from raising the consumption tax rate.”
Economic critic Jounen Tsukasa opposed the plan by saying that a rise in the consumption tax rate will not contribute to an increase in tax revenues because Japan is in a period of economic deflation.
