as the backbone of this manifesto is 'People's lives are the priority,' " DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa said of the platform for the July 29 Upper House race. "We must engage in politics on the same footing as the people."
Brushing off the ruling bloc's attack on his plan to raise money through administrative reforms, Ozawa said, "The government and ruling coalition are trying to find fault in it, but we're confident we can easily secure the money."
For example, a DPJ-led government would save 6.4 trillion yen by changing the system under which the central government gives subsidies to municipalities and 3.8 trillion yen by doing away with government affiliates in principle, according to the platform.
On Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's push to amend the Constitution, the DPJ said the Cabinet should not use the Constitution as a way to play up a tradition or set of values, or force any morals or duties on the public.
The DPJ will "discuss the matter freely and with an open heart based on the proposals on changing the Constitution compiled in 2005," the platform states.
Addressing the mismanagement of premium payment records, the party pledges to issue "pension books" to keep track of past premium payments to help pensioners who may be receiving fewer benefits than they are entitled to.
The DPJ is also promising a monthly family allowance of 26,000 yen for each child through junior high school, and financial aid for farming households to make up for the gap between production costs and market prices.
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