Aso to vow implementation of economic package as top-priority policy+

TOKYO, Sept. 27 Kyodo - Prime Minister Taro Aso will pledge to implement an emergency package of economic measures as a top-priority policy for now when he delivers his first policy speech before the Diet as premier next week, government sources said Saturday.

In the policy speech at Monday's extraordinary Diet session, Aso, who became
prime minister Wednesday, will also say his government will make a ''necessary
review'' of the unpopular healthcare insurance program for seniors aged 75 or
older, the sources said.
Referring to the bankruptcy of U.S. securities firm Lehman Brothers Holdings
Inc. amid the financial market turmoil stemming from the subprime mortgage
debacle, Aso will say the Japanese economy ''requires three years for
recovery,'' they said.
Aso will present a three-stage prescription for the Japanese economy -- an
emergency package of measures to alleviate the negative impact from spikes in
energy and raw material costs, rebuilding strained national finances as a
medium-term goal, and achieving economic growth through medium- and long-term
reform, according to the sources.
He will vow to see the Diet pass the fiscal 2008 supplementary budget at an
early date to help finance the economic package, they said.
Aso will state the government will review the healthcare insurance program for
seniors aged 75 or older. The insurance program, put in place in April and
covering about 13 million people, has come under fire for placing a heavier
financial burden on elderly people with low incomes.
He will also note the government will raise the share of public funding in the
state-run basic pension scheme to half in fiscal 2009 as scheduled.
Aso will say the government will redouble efforts to prevent the recurrence of
sales of tainted rice for edible purposes, according to the sources.
The government classified imported rice tainted with pesticide residue or any
other harmful substances as non-edible and sold such rice to companies on
condition that the rice be used for non-edible purposes including the
production of glue. But Osaka-based rice miller Mikasa Foods was recently found
to have sold such rice for edible use.
On the diplomatic and security front, Aso will stress the importance of
continuing the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the Indian
Ocean to support U.S.-led antiterrorism operations in and near Afghanistan, the
sources said.
He will also stress that Japan should actively contribute to the international
community through such measures as fight against terrorism, they said.
==Kyodo