Top �� What's up around the Prime Minister �� August, 2004

Prime Minister Meets with Representatives of the Six Regional Organizations Tuesday, August 24, 2004 Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi received a visit from Mr. Taku Kajiwara, the Chairman of the National Governors' Association and the governor of Gifu Prefecture, and other representatives of the six regional organizations (the National Governors' Association, the National Association of Chairpersons of Prefectural Assemblies, the Japan Association of City Mayors, the National Association of Chairpersons of City Councils, the National Association of Towns and Villages, and the National Association of Chairmen of Town and Village Assemblies) at the Prime Minister's Official Residence and was handed a reform proposal on state subsidies from the representatives. Prime Minister Koizumi had requested the six regional organizations to compile a reform proposal on state subsidies as part of the reform packages of three issues which reviews the taxation and fiscal policies of the government and the regions. The reform proposal submitted included the reduction of state subsidies by 3.2 trillion yen over the next two years until FY2006, and transfer of tax revenue sources of around 3 trillion yen from the government to the regions as a measure to enhance the independence of the regions. In receiving this reform proposal, Prime Minister Koizumi expressed his intention to establish a consultative organization with members from the government and the local governments.