一体改革法案 与野党協議へ「建設的対案」を

The Yomiuri Shimbun (May. 10, 2012)
Realistic counterproposals needed from LDP
一体改革法案　与野党協議へ「建設的対案」を（5月9日付・読売社説）

Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda has declared it is "no exaggeration to say" he is staking his political life on passage of a package of bills for comprehensive reform of the social security and tax systems, on which Diet deliberations started Tuesday.
　「政治生命を懸けるといった言葉に掛け値はない」――。野田首相がこう明言する社会保障と税の一体改革関連法案の審議が始まった。

The ruling and opposition parties should make serious concessions with the aim of passing the bills as soon as possible.
　与野党は大胆に歩み寄り、早期の成立を目指すべきだ。

During a question-and-answer session in the House of Representatives, Tadamori Oshima, vice president of the main opposition Liberal Democratic Party, referred to the current gridlock in politics under the divided Diet. "It is desirable to establish rules regarding negotiations among parties so as to form a new policymaking process," he said.
　衆院本会議の質疑で自民党の大島理森副総裁は「衆参ねじれ」による政治の停滞に関連し、「政党間協議のルールを確立し、新たな政策決定プロセスを構築することこそが求められる」と述べた。

Oshima also expressed his party's willingness to join negotiations between the ruling and opposition camps, depending on the Democratic Party of Japan's handling of discussions on the bills.
　大島氏は、民主党の対応によっては与野党協議に応じても良い、との意向も明らかにした。

It is noteworthy that momentum has been finally generated to move toward debate on the integrated reform.
　一体改革に向けて、話し合いの機運がようやく出てきたことは評価できよう。

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Cooperation crucial

To pass bills under the divided Diet, it is crucial for the government to gain cooperation from the LDP and other opposition parties. Noda must exercise his leadership to create an environment to elicit it.
　ねじれ国会で、政府が法案を成立させるには自民党など野党の協力が不可欠だ。野田首相は指導力を発揮し、野党の協力を得るための環境を整える必要がある。

The LDP has demanded the DPJ drop its plans to create a new pension system that would include a guaranteed minimum pension, as well as abolish a special health insurance system for people aged 75 and older. The two measures were among the major policies the party pledged in its manifesto for the 2009 lower house election.
　自民党は、最低保障年金を柱とする新年金制度案と、後期高齢者医療制度の廃止方針の撤回を求めた。ともに民主党の政権公約（マニフェスト）の看板政策だ。

Noda has only indicated he would leave a decision up to the DPJ. We believe, however, the party has no choice but to drop those policies to pave the way for the ruling and opposition parties to hold talks on the bills.
　首相は党内の検討に委ねる考えを示したが、与野党協議の実現に向けて撤回するしかあるまい。

The prime minister instead urged the LDP to make "constructive counterproposals" on the comprehensive reform.
　首相は逆に、自民党に「建設的な対案」の提示を求めた。

When it comes to the social security system, the opposition party's counterproposal is unlikely to significantly differ from the government's legislation on integrating corporate employees' and mutual-aid pensions because the current government's plan is almost the same as the one submitted in 2007 by the coalition government between the LDP and New Komeito.
　自民党の社会保障の対案は、政府案と大きく違うことはないだろう。政府が提出している厚生、共済両年金の一元化法案は、自公政権が２００７年に提出した法案とほとんど同じ内容である。

We believe that it would not take much time for the ruling and opposition camps to reach a consensus as long as the LDP makes a counterproposal on this issue.
　自民党が対案を出せば、与野党の合意形成にそう時間はかからないのではないか。

The LDP also should compile a counterproposal on raising the consumption tax rate, in which support measures for low-income earners would be a major focal point.
　自民党は、消費税率引き上げでも対案をまとめるべきだ。低所得者対策が一つの焦点となる。

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Examine reduced tax system

The government's bill to raise the consumption tax rate includes granting cash benefits to those with lower incomes, which might result in bloating the amounts of the planned cash allowances. The government would undermine the efficacy of the tax hike if it implements yet another handout policy at the same time.
　低所得者への現金給付を軸とする政府案は、給付額が膨らむ恐れがある。新たなバラマキとなれば増税の効果は損なわれよう。

In Europe, which has a tradition of value-added taxes, reduced tax rate systems have been adopted with the aim of lowering the taxes on food and other daily necessities, as well as newspapers and books.
　付加価値税の歴史が長い欧州では、食料品など生活必需品や、新聞・書籍などに対する軽減税率が定着している。

The LDP has been examining the introduction of a reduced tax rate system apparently because it regards the mechanism as realistic in light of the European example. We propose the government positively study the system.
　自民党が軽減税率を検討しているのは、欧州を参考に現実的な案と判断しているからだろう。政府も前向きに考えてはどうか。

There is a concern, however, over Diet deliberations on the package of bills for the integrated reform. The LDP has set a precondition for holding discussions in a special committee: the replacement of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Minister Takeshi Maeda and Defense Minister Naoki Tanaka, who were recently censured by the opposition-controlled House of Councillors.
　今後、一体改革法案の審議を進める上で懸念材料もある。自民党は、参院で問責された前田国土交通相と田中防衛相を辞めさせることを特別委員会での審議に応じる条件としている。

However, neither of the two ministers have anything to do with the social security or tax systems. The LDP should decouple debate on the bill from calling for the ministers to be replaced.
　だが、両氏とも社会保障・税とは無関係だ。辞任要求と、法案の審議は切り離すべきである。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 9, 2012)
（2012年5月9日02時17分 読売新聞）