Lawmakers should receive cash payouts just like others: LDP members

Wednesday 07th January, 06:23 AM JST

TOKYO —

A senior governing Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker suggested Tuesday that lawmakers should be able to reap the benefits of the controversial cash payout plan just like other individuals, going against Prime Minister Taro Aso’s initial argument that the plan is designed to help the vulnerable, not the rich.

LDP Secretary General Hiroyuki Hosoda said at a meeting of the ruling bloc of the LDP and the New Komeito party, ‘‘As the scheme is an economic measure, Diet members should not turn it down, but rather receive it and use the cash,’’ according to Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Jun Matsumoto who briefed the press on the meeting.

Matsumoto said Hosoda’s comment is based on the idea that using the cash is important to bring about economic effects.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura voiced approval of Hosoda’s suggestion, saying at a news conference, ‘‘Lawmakers need to cooperate in expanding consumption and domestic demand.’‘

Asked if Kawamura himself would accept the proposed minimum of 12,000 yen cash payout per person, he said, ‘‘I would like to.”

Their comments largely run counter to what Aso has said in the past about the 2 trillion yen cash disbursement scheme—a key plan incorporated in a second extra budget proposal for fiscal 2008 ending in March.

On the heels of the two senior LDP lawmakers’ comments, however, Aso adjusted his position slightly and said Tuesday evening, ‘‘The cash benefit scheme was initially designed to support people’s livelihoods, but I now believe it is more like a step to stimulate consumption in view that the situation has changed from when the scheme was crafted.’‘

Despite saying in November he has no intention of receiving the cash payout, Aso told reporters he has not yet decided whether he would accept it.

‘‘Whether or not an individual receives cash payouts is not something the government should decide,’’ he added.

Such comments contrast with those Aso made last year, including remarks that the government plans ‘‘to distribute cash to poor and vulnerable people and it is not necessary to give it out to the rich.’‘

He also said last month, ‘‘The plan is supposed to help hard-pressed people, and it is common sense that people who earn as much as 100 million yen should not receive cash payouts,’’ suggesting that high-income households should voluntarily decline.

The ruling coalition has decided to leave the decision on whether to set an income ceiling on the cash payouts to each local municipality, which will take charge of the disbursement process.

On the possibility that the lawmakers’ annual allowances, which are around 20 million yen, may exceed the government-proposed income reference ceiling of 18 million yen, Aso said, ‘‘I’m not sure if there are any local municipalities that have decided to introduce income ceilings.’‘

Kawamura also said, ‘‘I heard that most local municipalities would not set income ceilings anyway.’‘

Under the plan, each individual would receive 12,000 yen and an extra 8,000 yen will be given out to a child aged 18 or younger and seniors aged 65 or older.

The government submitted the second extra budget to the Diet on Monday, but it is likely to face filibuster attempts by the opposition camp, led by the Democratic Party of Japan, which has criticized the plan as lavish spending.

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14 Comments

some14some at 06:51 AM JST - 7th January

Hosoda is right. It is better than receiving "petty" donations from tainted businesses.
Tatanka at 08:21 AM JST - 7th January

Lawmakers pay taxes, so they are entitled to the money, too. Like the US tax rebates, Japan should only give the cash payouts to people who filed a 2007 tax return. Its absolutely ridiculous to give money to senile-bag-of-bones lying in nursing homes...
samsarks at 10:41 AM JST - 7th January

yes,they are entitled to it.so long as they pay taxes and the democratic party should just shut up cos i dont think they have the guts to rule japan
GW at 11:05 AM JST - 7th January

filing tax rtns or paying taxes wudnt apply to kids or spouses so are you saying they shudt rec any yen?
timorborder at 11:06 AM JST - 7th January

Oink, Oink. Good to the politicians with their snouts firmly in the trough.
mareo2 at 11:15 AM JST - 7th January

Holy God... there si no sense of shame in the LDP.
majimeaussie at 01:10 PM JST - 7th January

This shows the problem with the LDP (and politicians in general).

Basically I agree that they should be allowed to receive it, provided there isn't an income cap as originally proposed. However, how petty to argue over so small an amount (compared to their salaries) when it will obviously cause image and other problems to them (individually, the LDP and the government in general) by highlighting their sense of self entitlement.
ptolemy at 03:56 PM JST - 7th January

Oh my, greedy politicians, I never would have thought.
buggerlugs at 05:44 PM JST - 7th January

Shouldn't these guys actually set an example, take the money, then donate it to the needy??
HeathenCabin at 06:54 PM JST - 7th January

LPD=Idiots(only idiots can work in Jgov). Thats probably a law too!
Triumvere at 07:29 PM JST - 7th January

Haven't the LDP's pols already received enough "cash payouts"? Now excuse me, I have to register my house as a campaign support group HQ...
ca1ic0cat at 09:55 PM JST - 7th January

I agree that they should get their cash above the board but I thought that they all got plenty under the table? Maybe I'm just to cynical any more.
buddha4brains at 03:17 AM JST - 8th January

Not much of a stimulus. Where will it get spent? Or will it be saved?

If the gov't wanted to stimulate the economy then they should focus on bigger ticket items like homes, cars, computers where the manufacturing sector gets a boost, jobs saved, and the economy trudges along.

As it is most people with nickel and dime their 12,000 yen on small items (food, entertainment, clothes). This package seems designed for political rather than economic benefit.
TPOJ at 07:58 AM JST - 8th January

Yes, they should.

Of course, the whole idea is moronic to begin with, but why exclude them?