ニュース 2009/02/26 DPJ Upper House Caucus Chair Koshiishi Tells Press that the Issue of Politics and Religion Should be Debated in the Upper House On the afternoon of February 26, DPJ House of Councillors Caucus Chair Azuma Koshiishi said in a regular press conference that he would raise the issue of links between politics and religion now that the debate on budget proposals has moved to the Upper House. Koshiishi said for some time he has been calling for focused debate on the issue during budget committee deliberations and that during the course of such discussions he also hoped former Komeito Chair Junya Yano could be summoned to the House to give testimony as an unsworn witness. When asked about the stance the DPJ intended to take during the budget committee, he replied that the party would continue to demand the resignation of the Aso Cabinet followed by a general election. He added, "Japan's economic crisis will get worse if the government is focusing only on diplomacy. The Aso Cabinet should be disbanded. The best economic stimulus would be for the Prime Minister to resign as soon as possible."