Over the outraged shouts of opposition lawmakers, the Liberal Democratic Party-New Komeito ruling bloc rammed the ¥14 trillion extra budget for fiscal 2009 and related bills through the Lower House Wednesday.
The enactment of the supplementary budget, the largest ever, is Prime Minister Taro Aso's key goal in the current ordinary Diet session. Immediately after passing the lower chamber, the budget was immediately sent to the opposition-controlled Upper House for deliberation.
In the face of strong protest from the opposition parties, led by the Democratic Party of Japan, it remains to be seen whether the budget and related bills will clear the Diet before the session ends June 3, forcing a possible extension.