The income of Diet members hit a record low average of 20.03 million in 2011, down 1.75 million from a year earlier, data released by the Diet said Monday.
The fourth consecutive yearly decline comes on the heels of a salary cut to help finance reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake.
After a 500,000 monthly pay cut between April and September 2011, which resulted in an annual salary of 15.46 million, average income for the 477 members of the Lower House covered came to 20.07 million. The income for the 240 Upper House members stood at 19.96 million, according to the data, which has been disclosed by law since 1992.
Former Prime Minister Taro Aso, a Lower House member of the Liberal Democratic Party, was the highest earner for the second year in a row at 431.37 million, including 402.5 million from asset sales his office declined to detail.
Kunio Hatoyama, a former minister of internal affairs and communications who is now an independent Lower House member, ranked second with income of 255.43 million.
Hatoyama was followed by Upper House member Kenji Nakanishi of Your Party with 248.97 million and Upper House LDP member Yukari Sato with 93.71 million.
Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda reported 31.66 million, which was the highest of the 11 party leaders.
Lower House: 38
Ichiro Ozawa
Kenji Yamaoka
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Diet ranks' average income hit record low in '11
