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UPDATE: Saturday, June 12, 2010      The Japan Times Weekly    2010年4月3日号 (バックナンバー)
 
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Budget passed, battles ahead
(From The Japan Times March 26 issue)

 


要約
予算成立、正念場はこれからだ

The fiscal 2010 budget and related bills were enacted March 24 with their passage through the Upper House. The budget is the fifth-most quickly enacted in postwar history. Still, the Hatoyama administration has many problems left to solve.

The fiscal 2010 budget is the largest ever at ¥92.299 trillion. For the first time in postwar history, bond issuances in an initial budget — totaling a record-high ¥44.303 trillion, or 48 percent of the budget — will top tax revenues (¥37.396 trillion).

A bill making public high schools tuition-free and providing some ¥120,000 a year to private high school students, and another offering a child allowance of ¥13,000 per month per child, are expected to be enacted by the end of March. Big expenses are ahead. The Democratic Party of Japan's election manifesto called for the child allowance to be doubled from fiscal 2011, which will require ¥5.3 trillion. In addition, ¥1.6 trillion will be needed annually to improve nursery schools and other child-related services. The government must consider how best to utilize the limited available funds to create a social environment conducive to child rearing.

A decision on whether tuition support should cover students at North Korea-affiliated Chosen high schools has been postponed. They should not be excluded from the plan.

Passing the budget is a big hurdle cleared, but a bill to establish the National Strategy Bureau under the Cabinet — a pillar of the administration's agenda of reform — is yet to be enacted.

Economically, the government has a dual challenge: pull the Japanese economy out of deflation and work out a long-term plan for financial reconstruction. Drafting an effective program to nurture new industries that will contribute to economic growth and employment is very important.

Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama must strive to improve the public image of the DPJ, which has been sullied by the effects of funds scandals and the perception that it doesn't permit free discussion within the party, as indicated at the end of March by the aborted attempt to dismiss a rebellious vice secretary general.

The Japan Times Weekly: April 3, 2010
(C) All rights reserved
 

新年度予算と関連法案は戦後5番目のスピード成立となったが、鳩山政権の課題は多い。

予算額は92兆円と過去最高で、当初予算で国債発行額が戦後初めて税収を上回る。

公立高校の授業料無償化と子ども手当の法案は3月末の成立予定だ。2011年からの同手当満額支給以外に、保育所整備ほか子育て支援に毎年1.6兆円かかる。子育てしやすい環境づくりに限られた資金をどう有効活用できるか。

朝鮮学校を無償化の対象にするのかという決断は見送られたが、対象から外すべきではない。

経済の課題としては、デフレ脱却と長期の財政再建計画の2つがある。経済成長と雇用につながる新しい産業を育む制度の立案も重要だ。

首相は、政治資金問題や副幹事長解任騒動で悪化した民主党のイメージ改善にも努めるべき

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