Key members of Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto's Cabinet lashed out Aug. 19 against proposals being discussed by a blue-ribbon panel headed by Hashimoto to reorganize the ministries under their charge.

They made the remarks as members of the Administrative Reform Council entered their second day of intensive discussions on reforms.

At a regular news conference, Finance Minister Hiroshi Mitsuzuka reiterated that fiscal and monetary policy should be handled by the same minister, rebutting a proposal that the two major functions of his ministry be separated as part of administrative reforms.