Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi affirmed Sunday his determination to reform the current practice of earmarking some tax revenue exclusively for road-related projects.
Stumping for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party ahead of the June 24 Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election, Koizumi said, "It is a misery for local communities that (the so-called road-only tax revenue) cannot be allotted for education, welfare and environmental issues.
"By saying 'revision' of the tax revenue, I mean that the money must be used for purposes other than road construction and maintenance, purposes for which the revenue can be used more effectively."