The House of Representatives passed a bill Thursday to enable the government to execute an emergency tax hike to secure funds for rebuilding Tohoku from March quake and tsunami.
The Lower House, where Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda's ruling Democratic Party of Japan holds a majority, voted for the bill before debate in the opposition-controlled House of Councilors.
The bill will now be sent to the Upper House, where Noda could see it passed as early as next week with help from major opposition parties, which have been discussing the conditions with the DPJ. (Japan Times)
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