ID :
23291
Wed, 10/08/2008 - 20:35
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/23291
The shortlink copeid
1.8 tril. yen extra budget passes lower house, enactment likely
TOKYO, Oct. 8 Kyodo - (EDS: RECASTING, ADDING MORE INFO)
A 1.81 trillion yen supplementary budget aimed at supporting businesses and
livelihoods cleared the House of Representatives on Wednesday, marking progress
for Prime Minister Taro Aso who is making its enactment his top priority before
calling a general election amid growing concerns over Japan's economy.
With the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan showing a cooperative stance
toward Aso in the hope to make him call an election, not only the fiscal 2008
extra budget but also another key bill aimed at extending Japan's refueling
mission in the Indian Ocean are now expected to gain Diet approval during the
current parliamentary session.
The government-proposed extra budget for the current fiscal year through next
March is part of an 11.7 trillion yen emergency policy package, unveiled at the
end of August and designed to alleviate the negative impact on the Japanese
economy from spikes in energy and raw material prices.
Following its passage in the lower house, the budget was sent to the
opposition-controlled House of Councillors and is likely to pass the chamber as
early as Oct. 16 for enactment.
Aso is expected to make his final decision on when to dissolve the lower house
for an election soon by watching the moves in parliament and the economic
situation.
Speaking to reporters in the evening, Aso reiterated that he will put his
priority on economic stimulus measures, rather than calling the election.
The ruling coalition of Aso's Liberal Democratic Party and the New Komeito
party, as well as the DPJ and the tiny opposition People's New Party voted in
favor of the extra budget during the lower house plenary session, which was
held after the budget cleared the house's Budget Committee.
By approving the extra budget, the DPJ intends to step up pressure on Aso to
call the election, which is already delayed from the initial timing considered
by the ruling parties, amid uncertainty over the economy in the wake of the
U.S.-triggered financial turmoil.
The DPJ also plans to allow the government-submitted bill on Japan's refueling
mission to pass the Diet, although the party is likely to vote against it,
according to DPJ lawmakers.
The bill will extend the temporary law currently authorizing the mission in
support of U.S.-led antiterrorism operations in and near Afghanistan for one
year until January 2010.
If the upper house rejects the bill following lower house approval, the ruling
parties can use their overwhelming two-thirds majority in the more powerful
lower house to seek passage of the bill by holding an overriding second vote in
the chamber in line with constitutional provisions.
Asked whether he will resort to a second vote, Aso told reporters, ''I've
continued to say that there is no option for Japan to become the only one to
give up the fight against terrorism and withdraw from Afghanistan when the
world is fighting against terrorism.''
The bill's passage, which has a possibility to happen by the end of October, is
likely to provide a reason for the DPJ to insist that Aso has no other tasks to
deal with and that he should swiftly call an election.
The extra budget includes 351.8 billion yen for social welfare measures such as
lessening senior citizens' medical cost burdens, and 729.6 billion yen for
disaster prevention measures.
It also includes 188.1 billion yen to promote a low-carbon society and enhance
the competitiveness of domestic farm and fishery industries, 446.9 billion yen
to support small businesses and 91.6 billion yen to aid local governments.
Despite recent falls in crude oil prices in global markets, some Japanese
companies still face severe business conditions as they have not fully passed
on past surges in raw material import prices to consumers.
Before the budget committee's approval, Aso called Wednesday's plunge in Tokyo
stocks ''not normal'' and said it signals concerns over the future course of
the economy.
With the lower house's current term set to expire next September, Aso, who took
office on Sept. 24 after his predecessor Yasuo Fukuda resigned, is apparently
looking for a time to call the election that would favor the ruling parties.
A 1.81 trillion yen supplementary budget aimed at supporting businesses and
livelihoods cleared the House of Representatives on Wednesday, marking progress
for Prime Minister Taro Aso who is making its enactment his top priority before
calling a general election amid growing concerns over Japan's economy.
With the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan showing a cooperative stance
toward Aso in the hope to make him call an election, not only the fiscal 2008
extra budget but also another key bill aimed at extending Japan's refueling
mission in the Indian Ocean are now expected to gain Diet approval during the
current parliamentary session.
The government-proposed extra budget for the current fiscal year through next
March is part of an 11.7 trillion yen emergency policy package, unveiled at the
end of August and designed to alleviate the negative impact on the Japanese
economy from spikes in energy and raw material prices.
Following its passage in the lower house, the budget was sent to the
opposition-controlled House of Councillors and is likely to pass the chamber as
early as Oct. 16 for enactment.
Aso is expected to make his final decision on when to dissolve the lower house
for an election soon by watching the moves in parliament and the economic
situation.
Speaking to reporters in the evening, Aso reiterated that he will put his
priority on economic stimulus measures, rather than calling the election.
The ruling coalition of Aso's Liberal Democratic Party and the New Komeito
party, as well as the DPJ and the tiny opposition People's New Party voted in
favor of the extra budget during the lower house plenary session, which was
held after the budget cleared the house's Budget Committee.
By approving the extra budget, the DPJ intends to step up pressure on Aso to
call the election, which is already delayed from the initial timing considered
by the ruling parties, amid uncertainty over the economy in the wake of the
U.S.-triggered financial turmoil.
The DPJ also plans to allow the government-submitted bill on Japan's refueling
mission to pass the Diet, although the party is likely to vote against it,
according to DPJ lawmakers.
The bill will extend the temporary law currently authorizing the mission in
support of U.S.-led antiterrorism operations in and near Afghanistan for one
year until January 2010.
If the upper house rejects the bill following lower house approval, the ruling
parties can use their overwhelming two-thirds majority in the more powerful
lower house to seek passage of the bill by holding an overriding second vote in
the chamber in line with constitutional provisions.
Asked whether he will resort to a second vote, Aso told reporters, ''I've
continued to say that there is no option for Japan to become the only one to
give up the fight against terrorism and withdraw from Afghanistan when the
world is fighting against terrorism.''
The bill's passage, which has a possibility to happen by the end of October, is
likely to provide a reason for the DPJ to insist that Aso has no other tasks to
deal with and that he should swiftly call an election.
The extra budget includes 351.8 billion yen for social welfare measures such as
lessening senior citizens' medical cost burdens, and 729.6 billion yen for
disaster prevention measures.
It also includes 188.1 billion yen to promote a low-carbon society and enhance
the competitiveness of domestic farm and fishery industries, 446.9 billion yen
to support small businesses and 91.6 billion yen to aid local governments.
Despite recent falls in crude oil prices in global markets, some Japanese
companies still face severe business conditions as they have not fully passed
on past surges in raw material import prices to consumers.
Before the budget committee's approval, Aso called Wednesday's plunge in Tokyo
stocks ''not normal'' and said it signals concerns over the future course of
the economy.
With the lower house's current term set to expire next September, Aso, who took
office on Sept. 24 after his predecessor Yasuo Fukuda resigned, is apparently
looking for a time to call the election that would favor the ruling parties.
