DPJ to tackle govt on 2nd extra budget

Written by Writer on Thursday, October 30th, 2008

DPJ to tackle govt on 2nd extra budget

Senior leaders of the Democratic Party of Japan met Wednesday and decided to confront the government and the ruling coalition over a second supplementary budget for fiscal 2008 expected to be submitted by the government.

At the party meeting Wednesday morning, DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa and Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama, among other senior leaders, also agreed to continue to call for an early dissolution of the House of Representatives for a general election, while acknowledging that the government would put off doing so.

Regarding a bill to revise the new Antiterrorism Law, currently under discussion in the opposition-controlled House of Councillors, the main opposition party’s leaders agreed to seek the submission of relevant documents and the summons of unsworn witnesses.

They also decided to demand that a bill to revise the financial function enhancement law includes a clarification of management responsibility as regards injections of public money, among other issues.

The leaders confirmed they would not unnecessarily delay deliberations on both bills.

However, they said the DPJ would decide when to vote on the bills after studying the approach taken by the ruling parties.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, DPJ Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Kenji Yamaoka said: “We’ll agree to vote on the bill for the new Antiterrorism Law as soon as necessary deliberations are over. As regards the bill for the financial function enhancement law, once the amendment is approved, we’ll agree to vote on it, too.”

“We’ve set aside enough room to discuss the second supplementary budget [for fiscal 2008],” Yamaoka added.
(Oct. 30, 2008)