A bill that would more than double medical costs for the public starting Sept. 1 cleared the Lower House on May 8 with the support of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its two non-Cabinet allies.

In addition to the the Social Democratic Party and New Party Sakigake, it received support from Taiyoto, a Shinshinto splinter party, and 21st Century, a small parliamentary group of conservative independents. The bill was moved to the Upper House for further action.

Shinshinto, the Democratic Party of Japan and the Japanese Communist Party voted against it.