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2011/11/21
Third supplementary budget enacted
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On November 21, in the plenary session of the House of Councillors, the third supplementary budget for fiscal 2011 was enacted, following a vote in which it was approved by the ruling parties and the majority of the opposition parties. This budget adds supplementary spending totalling 12.1 trillion yen, which includes costs for reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake, measures for dealing with the damage from Typhoon Roke, and for benefits to be provided to those infected with the Hepatitis B virus.
Diet member of the House of Councillors Michihiro Ishibashi made a speech in favour of the legislation. Ishibashi commented that when he had first visited the disaster-affected areas, survivors had said to him, “Those of us who remain alive will definitely rebuild this land. We would like to ask for your full support.” He called Diet members to support the legislation, saying, “I would like to ask for your unanimous support for this third supplementary budget so that the survivors of the disaster can see in the New Year with the real sense that reconstruction is approaching and with great expectations for tomorrow.”
In the meeting of the House of Councillors Committee on Budget that was held in the morning of that same day prior to the plenary session, DPJ Diet member Norio Takeuchi wrapped up the interpellatory session. Takeuchi praised the third supplementary budget as legislation that would “eliminate the burden placed on the regions, and enable each region to unite to engage in reconstruction efforts.” When he asked about the future response to projects that ended up being omitted from the current supplementary budget and to new needs that may arise, Prime Minister Noda responded that while it was not appropriate to refer to the possibility of a fourth supplementary budget at this stage, if additional fiscal demands for budgetary measures directed toward the regions became necessary, he would like to respond as appropriate.
On the same day, the plenary session of the House of Councillors unanimously approved a bipartisan private members resolution “to continue to engage in finding resolutions to refugee protection and other refugee issues.” (The content of this resolution is the same as that approved by the House of Representatives).
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