The Liberal Democratic Party’s second in command indicated that the LDP will raise the nation’s consumption tax during fiscal 2007 in order to finance social security programs.
Asked by a moderator on a Fuji TV program whether the LDP’s election manifesto means the consumption tax — currently at 5 percent — will be hiked in the year starting in April 2007, LDP Secretary General Tsutomu Takebe said, “Yes.”
The LDP now has to consider the margin of increase, the party’s No. 2 man said.
Apparently, the thought of cutting costs has not occurred to the ruling party. Perhaps they need to maintain budget levels so they can ensure a steady supply of luxury ashtrays. . .
I would love to be a fly on the wall when Koizumi takes down Takebe on this. According to my Komeito sources, Takebe is going to be looking at a serious demotion soon, because he is looked upon as not doing enough to keep the right-wingers in caucus from opposing postal privatization.