Parliament enacts new fiscal year budget forcing people to pay more

The three ruling parties used their parliamentary majority on March 28 to enact the fiscal 2003 national budget after it was approved by the House of Councilors. The new budget, which starts on April 1st, forces people to pay an additional 4.4 trillion yen.

The Liberal Democratic, Komei and New Conservative parties rejected the discussion of the opposition parties' call for a freeze on the planned increase in insured wage earners' payments for medical costs.

Speaking on behalf of the Japanese Communist Party in the Upper House Plenary Session, Togashi Renzo criticized the ruling parties for "turning their backs on the public and failing to fulfill their responsibility."

The 81.8 trillion yen budget includes 45 percent of revenue on the issuance of government bonds. On the expenditure side, it preserves large public works projects while carrying out further cutbacks in social services.

An extra burden of 4.4 trillion yen will be imposed on the people through the abolition of the special spouse deduction from taxable income and increase in liquor and cigarette taxes. (end)