Keeping devolution in focus
(From The Japan Times July 23 issue)

地方への権限委譲、与野党で協議を

The divided Diet caused by the ruling coalition's failure to maintain a majority in the Upper House is worrying the nation's 47 governors that bills to boost the power of local governments will not be enacted. Amid a sense of crisis, the National Governors' Association held a convention July 15-16 in Wakayama, and issued a statement calling on the ruling and opposition parties to establish a consultative body between them to ensure the passage of those bills.

In view of the financial difficulties affecting the central and local governments, the governors also called for raising the consumption tax from 5 percent. Revenues from the 1 percent portion of the 5 percent go to local governments. They called for the formation of another consultative body between the ruling and opposition parties to discuss tax reform, and expressed their readiness to participate in the debate.

Three bills aimed at forming a legally backed forum for policy consultations between the central and local governments, and strengthening a devolution strategy conference within the Cabinet Office have been carried over to the next Diet session. Establishment of such a forum must be acceptable to the ruling and opposition parties. Both should cooperate in the Diet to flesh out this idea. On its part, the Democratic Party of Japan must listen to the opposition parties' opinions.

The DPJ government plans to free up, one by one, subsidies to local governments with strings attached from fiscal 2011. But the DPJ may not be able to enact a bill to free up such subsidies — and other bills — because the opposition controls the Upper House and the DPJ lacks a two-thirds majority in the Lower House to reverse an Upper House vote.

Because the opposition parties' attitudes can decide the fate of bills designed to give more power to local governments, the governors made it clear that they will contact the opposition camp to gain their cooperation. It may be important for the governors to approach political parties. But at the same time, they must clearly demonstrate to local residents how devolution will help improve the quality of their lives.

与党敗北により衆参でねじれが生じ各知事は地方の権限を強める法案が成立されるかどうか懸念を示している。全国知事会議は、与野党協議機関の設置を要請した。消費税5%のうち1%分は地方消費税だが、消費税の引き上げを含む税制改革については、与野党協議機関設置を求め、論議に参加する意欲もみせている。

「国と地方の協議の場」設置法案など地域主権改革関連3法案は継続審議となっているが、与野党は設置を受け入れ、国会で具体化に努めるべきだ。民主党には野党の声を聞いてほしい。

民主党は2011年度から「ひも付き補助金」を廃止する予定だが、そのための法案などさまざまな法案の成立が難しくなる可能性がある。知事らは野党への働きかけを表明しているが、権限委譲がどう生活向上につながるのか地元民に説明することも重要だ。