The government’s policy to abolish the current health insurance cards and replace them with My Number cards next fall has been met with a series of voices from local assemblies saying, “We can’t wait.” Since last fall, approximately 90 local councils across the country have submitted written opinions to the national government requesting a cautious response. In October, the Shizuoka City Council, led by the Liberal Democratic Party faction, adopted a written opinion calling for the public’s understanding without insisting on abolishing the system next fall. Will the government listen to voices from local areas? (Yuichiro Yamada)
◆In Shizuoka City, the Liberal Democratic Party took the lead and passed unanimously.
On October 11, the last day of the Shizuoka City Council’s September regular meeting, the “Opinion Paper Requesting Initiatives to Ensure the Security and Trust of Individual Number Cards” was unanimously passed. The opinion letter pointed out that the repeated misregistration of insurance card information and public funds receiving accounts to the My Number is a “situation that shakes the trust in the My Number Card.” In response to the government’s comprehensive review of data and systems, he emphasized, “First of all, the government needs to dispel the various concerns that have arisen among the people.” We strongly urge the public to gain sufficient understanding.”
The written opinion is addressed to the Speakers of both Houses of Representatives, the Prime Minister, the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications, and the Minister of Digital. It was proposed by the Liberal Democratic Party faction and submitted after incorporating revised opinions from the Communist Party faction and others. City Councilor Tsutomu Hori, who was involved in coordinating with other factions on the Liberal Democratic Party’s city council group, said, “We have received a variety of voices from citizens.As the LDP’s approval rating continues to decline due to continued troubles, it is important to convey the voices of citizens to the government.” That is the mission of local councils.”
◆89 opinions submitted to the House of Representatives, 92 submitted to the House of Councilors
Similar opinion papers have been issued one after another across the country since October last year, when Digital Minister Taro Kono announced that health insurance cards would be abolished and replaced with MynaCard. When “This Special Report Department” asked the House of Representatives and House of Councilors Secretariat about the number of opinions submitted by local assemblies that included “My Number Card” and “Insurance Card” in the title, 89 were confirmed in the House of Representatives and 92 in the House of Councillors. Ta. Many called for the continuation of the current health insurance card, and there was also opposition to reflecting the prevalence of MynaCard in local allocation taxes.
Front of my number card (sample)
Myna Card has had a series of troubles regarding the linking of personal information. In June of this year, the government established the “My Number Information Comprehensive Inspection Headquarters,” headed by Kono. The plan is to complete a comprehensive inspection by the end of November and compile the results in early December.
The government continues to insist on abolishing it next fall. Since online qualification verification became mandatory in April, the usage rate of Myna Insurance Cards has continued to decline. At the House of Representatives Budget Committee meeting on October 30, Prime Minister Kishida responded to a point made by an opposition lawmaker by saying, “The people are feeling anxious.The benefits have not fully penetrated.” When asked about his thoughts on postponing the abolition of insurance cards, he said, “I don’t think there will be a review,” but “After looking at the results of the comprehensive inspection, we will make appropriate decisions on various measures, such as extending the period.”
◆Forcing people and imposing responsibility just because it is convenient
Commenting on the situation where local assemblies have submitted a series of opinions, Kazunori Kawamura, an associate professor of political science at Tohoku University, said, “When digitizing My Number and other systems, the government forces local governments to do so because it is convenient,” and if there is trouble, they “They have imposed responsibility on them. There is a backlash against the lack of politeness in getting an agreement.”
The reason behind this is said to be a “lack of communication between Diet members and local politicians.” On top of that, I emphasize this. “In the past, before a written opinion was submitted, the voices of local assembly members exerted pressure on members of the ruling party and functioned as a deterrent.At the point when local assembly members felt that unless they submitted their written opinion, it would not be heard by the government, The “listening ability” of Prime Minister Kishida and other members of the Diet may be declining.
