50 Ozawa backers may vote against tax bills
News On Japan via Yomiuri -- Jun 20
About 50 members of the House of Representatives who belong to a group backing Democratic Party of Japan kingpin Ichiro Ozawa will likely vote against the government-proposed legislation on tax and social security system reforms, The Yomiuri Shimbun has learned.
Asked what stand they will take when the bills centering on a hike in the consumption tax rate is put to vote in the lower house, 48 Ozawa group members said they would vote against the bills as of Monday.
Although the bills are sure to clear the lower house vote, a large number of dissenting ballots from the ruling party could deal a heavy blow to Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, who also is DPJ president, in running the party, analysts said.
Under a deal reached between the DPJ and two major opposition parties, the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito, the reform legislation is scheduled to be put to vote in the lower house by Thursday's end of the current Diet session.
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