The ruling bloc enacted the fiscal 2010 budget Wednesday, clearing the way to reflect the Democratic Party of Japan's campaign vows while cranking out an unprecedented ¥44.3 trillion in new bonds.
The ¥92.3 trillion budget bill — the largest ever — failed to win over the opposition camp led by the Liberal Democratic Party but was endorsed by the DPJ and its two junior partners, the Social Democratic Party and Kokumin Shinto (People's New Party).
Having survived relentless grilling from the opposition over a series of political money scandals, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama assured that the budget will help stimulate the sluggish economy.