National News Handouts passed; Aso staves off rebellion

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The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)-New Komeito ruling bloc rammed an unpopular bill needed to finance the fiscal 2008 second extra budget through the powerful Lower House on March 4.

Despite fears that several LDP members would rebel to undermine the two-thirds majority needed to override the Upper House, only two did — former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Jiro Ono, one of his ex-secretaries.

The pair abstained because the bill finances Prime Minister Taro Aso's controversial ¥2 trillion cash handout program, which Aso admitted March 3 he and all of his Cabinet members would also personally accept. (The Japan Times)

定額給付金関連法成立、造反は2人に留まる

連立与党は3月4日、2008年度第2次補正予算の財源を確保するための法案を、多数を占める衆議院で強引に可決した。

Shukan ST: March 13, 2009

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