April 8, 2008
Four opposition parties are set to join forces to get the new health insurance system for the elderly aged 75 and over revoked.
The secretaries general of the Japanese Communist, Democratic, Social Democratic, and People’s New parties on April 7 held a meeting in the Diet and agreed to work together to achieve this common goal.
Leaders of the four parties as well as their Dietmembers will take to the streets in Tokyo on April 14, the day before the first deduction from old age pension benefits of premiums for the new health insurance program.
On April 7, JCP representative Koike Akira used his allotted time for questioning at the House of Councilors Budget Committee meeting to argue that it is a “violation of the right to existence.” He said that the newly introduced adverse health insurance system must be abolished.
Koike pointed out that the elderly are hard hit by the increases in taxes and social insurance premiums, including medical-care and nursing-care premiums, in addition to the rise in prices of necessities.
Furthermore, the forcible deduction of premiums from shrinking pension benefits “runs against Article 25 of the Constitution that guarantees the right to maintain a minimum standard of wholesome and cultured living,” said Koike.
Health and Welfare Minister Masuzoe Yoichi replied, “If their lives are short of meeting Article 25 of the Constitution, they should apply for public welfare assistance.”
Koike said, “To begin with, it is unconstitutional to design a system that will force elderly people to become dependent on public welfare assistance.”
“It is possible to secure resources by cutting military spending and ending tax breaks for the wealthy and large corporations,” Koike added.
- Akahata, April 8, 2008
The secretaries general of the Japanese Communist, Democratic, Social Democratic, and People’s New parties on April 7 held a meeting in the Diet and agreed to work together to achieve this common goal.
Leaders of the four parties as well as their Dietmembers will take to the streets in Tokyo on April 14, the day before the first deduction from old age pension benefits of premiums for the new health insurance program.
On April 7, JCP representative Koike Akira used his allotted time for questioning at the House of Councilors Budget Committee meeting to argue that it is a “violation of the right to existence.” He said that the newly introduced adverse health insurance system must be abolished.
Koike pointed out that the elderly are hard hit by the increases in taxes and social insurance premiums, including medical-care and nursing-care premiums, in addition to the rise in prices of necessities.
Furthermore, the forcible deduction of premiums from shrinking pension benefits “runs against Article 25 of the Constitution that guarantees the right to maintain a minimum standard of wholesome and cultured living,” said Koike.
Health and Welfare Minister Masuzoe Yoichi replied, “If their lives are short of meeting Article 25 of the Constitution, they should apply for public welfare assistance.”
Koike said, “To begin with, it is unconstitutional to design a system that will force elderly people to become dependent on public welfare assistance.”
“It is possible to secure resources by cutting military spending and ending tax breaks for the wealthy and large corporations,” Koike added.
- Akahata, April 8, 2008
