CNN 2010-07-20

Billy Nungesser says today will mark a pivotal turning point for the first time since the April 20th explosion. Crews may be able to capture more oil than what's actually escaping. Alright, Wall Street reform is now just one signature away from being law. The Senate passed the massive 2300-page bill by a vote of 60-39. And President Obama is expected to approve it next week.

 

New financial regulations may seem removed from your everyday life, but this could mean some big changes in the way you spend money. Take a look.

First off, cash will be key when you go shopping. Stores will be allowed to require minimum purchases when you use plastic, and that means putting that 2-dollar cup of coffee on your credit card may be a thing of the past. You can also expect to see some stores actually offering discounts for paying up front instead of using credit. The rules also clamped down on so-called swipe fees. The fee banks charge stores when customers use debit¹ cards. Fewer fees mean less revenue for banks and that could translate to fewer perks². And free checking, cash-back rewards, a lot of those offers, they just might disappear. Next step, your loans. Banks will really be making sure that you can afford it especially when it comes to mortgages. You'll also have annual access to your credit score, that all-important number, not just your credit report. And how about those taxpayer³ bailouts? President Obama says the overhaul⁴ will make them a thing of the past. He says the bill gives Uncle Sam tools to crack down on companies that put the economy in danger, but Republicans dispute that and say this is big government at work.

 

All right, checking news across the country now. A list of alleged⁵ illegal immigrants is under investigation⁶ in Utah. More than 1,300 people are on the list, along with private information about them, like social security numbers and pregnancy⁷ due dates. A letter signed by “concerned citizens” came with it and said people on the list should be deported⁸ ASAP. It was sent to media and government offices across the state. Leaders in Salt Lake City's Latino community say the list has stirred up fear.

 

If I were governor right now, I would ask for an independent investigation of the list. I would go after whoever is putting out this kind of list through the law. And I would condemn⁹ the list, which wasn't done by our current governor.

 

Our community is very concerned, very worried about it. I would say, there, they have been terrorized, many of them. And people are just afraid about what's happening.

 

Employees acknowledge that they don't have permission, are not permitted to access case records, unless they have a business reason to be there. You just can't peruse¹⁰ the database and look at people's records.

 

The governor's office is trying to figure out how someone got a hold of that information. Investigators are zeroing in on the Utah Department of Workforce Services

1 debit   

n.借方，借项，记人借方的款项

参考例句：

• To whom shall I debit this sum?此款应记入谁的账户的借方？
• We undercharge Mr.Smith and have to send him a debit note for the extra amount.我们少收了史密斯先生的钱，只得给他寄去一张借条所要欠款。

2 perks   

额外津贴，附带福利，外快( perk的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Perks offered by the firm include a car and free health insurance. 公司给予的额外待遇包括一辆汽车和免费健康保险。
• Are there any perks that go with your job? 你的工作有什么津贴吗？

3 taxpayer   

n.纳税人

参考例句：

• The new scheme will run off with a lot of the taxpayer's money.这项新计划将用去纳税人许多钱。
• The taxpayer are unfavourably disposed towards the recent tax increase.纳税者对最近的增加税收十分反感。

4 overhaul   

v./n.大修，仔细检查

参考例句：

• Master Worker Wang is responsible for the overhaul of this grinder.王师傅主修这台磨床。
• It is generally appreciated that the rail network needs a complete overhaul.众所周知，铁路系统需要大检修。

5 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

6 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

7 pregnancy   

n.怀孕，怀孕期

参考例句：

• Early pregnancy is often accompanied by nausea.怀孕早期常有恶心的现象。
• Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage.怀孕期吸烟会增加流产的危险。

8 deported   

v.将…驱逐出境( deport的过去式和过去分词 )；举止

参考例句：

• They stripped me of my citizenship and deported me. 他们剥夺我的公民资格，将我驱逐出境。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The convicts were deported to a deserted island. 罪犯们被流放到一个荒岛。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 condemn   

vt.谴责，指责；宣判(罪犯)，判刑

参考例句：

• Some praise him,whereas others condemn him.有些人赞扬他，而有些人谴责他。
• We mustn't condemn him on mere suppositions.我们不可全凭臆测来指责他。

10 peruse   

v.细读，精读

参考例句：

• We perused the company's financial statements for the past five years.我们翻阅了公司过去5年来的财务报表。
• Please peruse this report at your leisure.请在空暇时细读这篇报道。