Time Running Out For US Deficit Reduction Deal

 　　U.S. lawmakers say time is running out for a congressional super committee to identify $1.2 trillion in deficit¹ reduction during the next 10 years. Partisan² disagreements remain on how best to improve America’s fiscal³ health, despite a softening⁴ of rigid⁵ ideological⁶ positions.

　　Members of the bipartisan, bicameral⁷ deficit reduction committee insist a deal is still possible before the November 23 deadline established in a budget deal signed into law earlier this year.

　　"The clock is running out, but it has not run out yet.  We still have time, but we have no time to waste," said Republican Senator Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania.

　　Toomey spoke⁸ on the U.S. television program, "Fox News Sunday."  Also appearing on Fox was another super committee member, Democratic Representative James Clyburn of South Carolina.

　　"We have got 10 days to do this, and I really believe that all of the ingredients for a good resolution are there.  We just need to develop the will," he said.

　　Should the committee fail, automatic budget cuts would be triggered that would fall on domestic spending championed by Democrats⁹ and defense¹⁰ spending championed by Republicans.

　　Both sides have put forth¹¹ proposals to avoid such an outcome.  Republicans are signaling their willingness to consider at least some form of increased revenue, while Democrats say they would be willing to reduce federal spending.  But Republicans continue to insist that the bulk of savings¹² should come from spending cuts.

　　"If you go too far, if you try to create too much revenue, you can do economic damage," said Senator Toomey.

　　Democrats are pushing for an even mix of spending cuts and tax hikes so that the budget ax does not fall disproportionately on programs replied on by the poor and disadvantaged.  Congressman Clyburn says it would be unjust to shield the wealthy from sacrifice to balance the nation’s books.

　　The minimum target for deficit reduction is $1.2 trillion. Some on the 12-member super committee say they hope for a much bigger deal, perhaps in the $4-trillion range, which would likely require reforms to income and health-care programs for retirees.  But the committee appears to be struggling just to meet the minimum amount.

　　The federal deficit exceeds $1 trillion this year.  The national debt, comprised of cumulative¹³ annual deficits¹⁴, totals roughly $15 trillion, or nearly $50,000 for each man, woman, and child in the country.

1 deficit   

n.亏空，亏损；赤字，逆差

参考例句：

• The directors have reported a deficit of 2.5 million dollars.董事们报告赤字为250万美元。
• We have a great deficit this year.我们今年有很大亏损。

2 partisan   

adj.党派性的；游击队的；n.游击队员；党徒

参考例句：

• In their anger they forget all the partisan quarrels.愤怒之中，他们忘掉一切党派之争。
• The numerous newly created partisan detachments began working slowly towards that region.许多新建的游击队都开始慢慢地向那里移动。

3 fiscal   

adj.财政的，会计的，国库的，国库岁入的

参考例句：

• The increase of taxation is an important fiscal policy.增税是一项重要的财政政策。
• The government has two basic strategies of fiscal policy available.政府有两个可行的财政政策基本战略。

4 softening   

变软，软化

参考例句：

• Her eyes, softening, caressed his face. 她的眼光变得很温柔了。它们不住地爱抚他的脸。 来自汉英文学 - 家（1-26） - 家（1-26）
• He might think my brain was softening or something of the kind. 他也许会觉得我婆婆妈妈的，已经成了个软心肠的人了。

5 rigid   

adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的

参考例句：

• She became as rigid as adamant.她变得如顽石般的固执。
• The examination was so rigid that nearly all aspirants were ruled out.考试很严，几乎所有的考生都被淘汰了。

6 ideological   

a.意识形态的

参考例句：

• He always tries to link his study with his ideological problems. 他总是把学习和自己的思想问题联系起来。
• He helped me enormously with advice on how to do ideological work. 他告诉我怎样做思想工作，对我有很大帮助。

7 bicameral   

adj.两院制的

参考例句：

• The United States Congress is a bicameral body.美国国会由两个议院组成。
• The Upper House is usually the smaller branch of a bicameral legislature.上议院通常是两院制议会中较小的一个。

8 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

9 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

11 forth   

adv.向前；向外，往外

参考例句：

• The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

12 savings   

n.存款，储蓄

参考例句：

• I can't afford the vacation,for it would eat up my savings.我度不起假，那样会把我的积蓄用光的。
• By this time he had used up all his savings.到这时，他的存款已全部用完。

13 cumulative   

adj.累积的，渐增的

参考例句：

• This drug has a cumulative effect.这种药有渐增的效力。
• The benefits from eating fish are cumulative.吃鱼的好处要长期才能显现。

14 deficits   

n.不足额( deficit的名词复数 )；赤字；亏空；亏损

参考例句：

• The Ministry of Finance consistently overestimated its budget deficits. 财政部一贯高估预算赤字。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Many of the world's farmers are also incurring economic deficits. 世界上许多农民还在遭受经济上的亏损。 来自辞典例句