Japan to Earmark 5 T. Yen for Stimulus Measures

Tokyo, Oct. 29 (Jiji Press)--Japan's government and ruling
coalition is considering earmarking about 5 trillion yen in fiscal spending as part of an additional package of stimulus measures, officials told Jiji Press Wednesday.

The sum will be set aside under a second supplementary budget, a
senior ruling coalition official said.
Including the fiscal spending, the additional package will be worth
over 20 trillion yen, the officials said.
If the amount of financial assistance to cash-strapped small firms,
a key measure in the package, is boosted from 10 trillion yen as currently
planned, the size of the stimulus package will be substantially larger, the
officials said.
The stimulus package will be financed mainly by surpluses on the
government's fiscal investment and loan program special account and
construction bonds.
The extra budget will also include several trillions of yen in
deficit bond issuance to cover expected tax revenue shortfalls.