CNN 2010-03-04

The health care summit, an extraordinary event, a rather ordinary outcome after hours of televised negotiations¹. Are Republicans and Democrats² any closer to really passing reforms?

Well, CNN White House correspondent Ed Henry takes a closer look for us.

The stakes couldn't be higher. He's betting his presidency³ on getting a health reform deal. This was his last ditch attempt to save it.

What I'm hoping to accomplish today is for everybody to focus not just on where we differ, but focus on where we agree.

A tall order when you throw dozens of members of Congress into a made-for-TV drama, at the historic Blair House.

Can I finish please?

The president's 2008 rival, Republican John McCain, quickly tweaked him over campaign promises.

Eight times you said that negotiations on health care reform would be conducted with the C-SPAN cameras. I'm glad more than a year later that they are here. Unfortunately this product was not produced in that fashion. It was produced behind closed doors. It was produced with unsavory -- I say that with respect -- deal making.

The president defended the transparency of the talks and gave as good as he got.

Let me just make this point, John, because we're not campaigning anymore, the election is over.

I am reminded of that every day.

Well, I -- yes.

Even the sharp exchanges were civil, if a bit jaded⁴, each party hammering familiar talking points.

The health insurance industry is the shark that swims just below the water. And you don't see that shark until you feel the teeth of that shark.

Should we regulate all of this? Should (INAUDIBLE) people in Washington decide exactly how this works and what you can and cannot buy?

After about six hours, Republicans believe they made their case to the American people, that the president's plan is simply too costly⁵.

It means that for millions of Americans premiums⁶ will go up because those -- when people pay those new taxes, premiums will go up and they will also go up because of the government mandates⁷.

But Democrats believe the president got the better of the Republicans.

So, Lamar, when you mentioned earlier that you said premiums go up, that's just not the case according to the Congressional Budget Office.

Mr. President, if you're going to contradict me, I ought to have a chance to --

No, no, no. Let me -- and this is an example of where we've got to get our facts straight.

 A CNN fact check gives the edge to the president. The CBO found that his plan would lower premiums for millions of Americans, and those facing hikes would get better coverage⁸.

1 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

2 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》

3 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。

4 jaded   

adj.精疲力竭的；厌倦的；（因过饱或过多而）腻烦的；迟钝的

参考例句：

• I felt terribly jaded after working all weekend. 整个周末工作之后我感到疲惫不堪。
• Here is a dish that will revive jaded palates. 这道菜简直可以恢复迟钝的味觉。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 costly   

adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的

参考例句：

• It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
• This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用，左不过贵了些。

6 premiums   

n.费用( premium的名词复数 )；保险费；额外费用；（商品定价、贷款利息等以外的）加价

参考例句：

• He paid premiums on his life insurance last year. 他去年付了人寿保险费。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Moves are afoot to increase car insurance premiums. 现正在酝酿提高汽车的保险费。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 mandates   

托管（mandate的第三人称单数形式）

参考例句：

• Individual mandates would require all people to purchase health insurance. 个人托管要求所有人都要购买健康保险。
• While I agree with those benefits, I'm not a supporter of mandates. 我同意上述好处，我不是授权软件的支持者。

8 coverage   

n.报导，保险范围，保险额，范围，覆盖

参考例句：

• There's little coverage of foreign news in the newspaper.报纸上几乎没有国外新闻报道。
• This is an insurance policy with extensive coverage.这是一项承保范围广泛的保险。