What Japan needs now
(From The Japan Times Jan. 8 issue)

経済危機に陥った日本に必要なものは

After the ordinary session of the Diet for 2009 convened Jan. 5, deliberations in the national legislature went into full swing. As the Japanese economy is battered by the global economic slowdown triggered by the financial crisis that originated in the United States, political parties must give priority to implementing policy measures to stabilize employment and stimulate the economy.

It is also important that the parties clarify their visions for a future Japan and the policy tools needed to realize them since the current term for the Lower House members expires in September and a general election will be held anyhow. The most important items on the Diet floor are a second supplementary budget for fiscal 2008 and the fiscal 2009 budget. The supplementary budget includes ¥2 trillion in cash benefits for all households.

Opposition forces led by the Democratic Party of Japan want the ¥2 trillion measure scrapped. They view it as a wasteful use of tax money, and argue that the money could be used for more meaningful purposes like helping the unemployed and small enterprises suffering from the economic downturn, and improving medical and nursing care services.

Prime Minister Taro Aso says the money is an emergency relief measure for households and that it will have the effect of increasing household consumption. He says people are waiting for the cash benefits. But he should consider the possibility that the contention between the ruling and opposition blocs over the ¥2 trillion will delay the enactment of the supplementary budget to mid-March or later. The supplementary budget includes measures for creating employment, and financially helping small and medium-size enterprises.

To ensure quick passage of the supplementary budget, the government and ruling bloc should agree to remove the ¥2 trillion measure. The opposition bloc, on its part, should cooperate in quickly passing the supplementary budget if the ¥2 trillion issue is handled separately. Both the ruling and opposition parties should consider what the nation needs most as it faces an economic crisis.

通常国会が召集され審議が始まった。金融危機で日本経済が疲弊するなか、各党は雇用安定化と経済活性化の政策を優先すべきだ。

衆院は9月に任期満了、年内に総選挙も実施されるため、各党は将来を見据えた政策と手段を明確にする必要がある。今国会の最重要事項は2兆円の定額給付金を含む20年度第2次補正予算案と21年度予算案だ。

野党は給付金を撤廃し、2兆円を雇用・中小企業対策や医療、介護に活用せよと訴えている。

麻生首相は、与野党の対立で雇用・中小企業対策を含む補正予算の成立が遅れる可能性を考慮すべきだ。与党は2次補正から給付金を切り離し、野党は早期成立に協力すべきだ。双方とも、経済危機に陥った日本が必要とするものを考えなければならない。