Use of public funds by local assemblypersons should be made transparent
September 5, 2014
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2014 September 3 - 9 [POLITICS]
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The Komei Party members’ group of a city assembly in Saitama in 2007 had lunch at a ramen shop in the city. They were, however, supposedly on a field trip in Nagasaki at that time as part of their “political research activities”. The group brazenly billed the city government for their lunch under the pretext of gathering for a political study session. Akahata reported on this billing fraud at the time which gained much public attention.
Recently, a Hyogo prefectural assemblyperson, Nonomura Ryutaro, attracted attention for his misuse of political activity funds paid by the local government. During the last fiscal year alone, he allegedly made 195 one-day field trips. A hot-springs resort was the place he most frequently visited. He received three million yen in public funds for his “political research trips”. When his strange claims surfaced and he was exposed for fraudulent behavior, he cried and sobbed like a child in front of news reporters.
It became clear that in the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly as well, some Liberal Democratic Party and Komei Party members paid attendance fees for banquets hosted by industry groups out of public funds. A lawyer familiar with political funds affairs pointed out, “This goes against the original purpose of political research funds.”
Political research funds are paid by local governments to assemblypersons for their study and policy research activities. In short, these grants are taxpayers’ money to further the public interest.
What about the Japanese Communist Party? Here is an example. A JCP local assemblymember was investigating an allegation over corruption in public works projects. The lawmaker used his political research funds to obtain copies of the registration deeds of the alleged land involved. Based on the materials he obtained, he conducted field investigations. He ate ramen after that. Of course, he paid for it out of his own pocket, not from his political research funds.
The JCP says it is necessary to require assemblypersons to strictly meet criteria regarding the purpose of the funds and to make transparent how political research funds are used.
Past related article:
> JCP in Tokyo Assembly contributes to increasing transparent use of public funds [October 21, 2012]
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