Japan Press Weekly

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2008 October 15 - 21 [POLITICS]

Supplementary budget enacted

The 2008 supplementary budget became law after passing through the House of Councilors, where the Liberal Democratic, Komei, and Democratic parties voted in favor of the bill. The Japanese Communist and Social Democratic parties voted against it.

The 1.8 trillion yen supplementary budget is based on the maintenance of the controversial health insurance system for the elderly aged 75 and over as well as the government “structural reform” policies.

The JCP opposed the supplementary budget because it sticks to the government’s current economic policies.

The party argues that the great crisis of the people’s deteriorating living conditions and the very survival of small businesses has been caused by government policies that support major exporters’ profit making schemes and which put heavier burdens on the general public. It calls for economic measures to encourage domestic demand and protect households.