密歇根新闻广播 恩格勒到兰辛打球

 

People who remember, remember Republican John Engler as a blunt, pugnacious¹ governor. And, before that, the same as state Senate majority leader.

Engler, who was named interim² president of Michigan State University earlier this year, brought that style back with him last week in an appearance before a legislative³ budget subcommittee.

He was there to ask for money for Michigan State University. But he came ready to fight over a package of bills that would make it easier for sexual assault victims to file lawsuits⁴ against universities.

Engler told lawmakers that they are getting in the way of settling the multitude of lawsuits filed against MSU by Nassar victims. And, along the way, he tangled⁵ with lawmakers, the ESPN sports network, and attorneys representing Nassar victims.

It's Just Politics with Zoe Clark and Rick Pluta, March 19th, 2018

ESPN has reported on allegations of sexual misconduct in MSU's sports programs. Engler reminded people that ESPN's being sued for sexual misconduct.

He also told lawmakers they could end up forcing up tuition at MSU and other universities by changing the rules for filing sexual abuse lawsuits. And he took aim at bills to change the statute⁶ of limitations to file legal actions. The measures would allow for retroactive lawsuits and narrow the grounds that universities can use to claim governmental immunity⁷.

Engler basically took on any and all adversaries⁸ – including when he suggested that the Legislature was being used by trial lawyers.

His comments did not sit well with state Sen. Tonya Schuitmaker, R-Lawton. “I thought that was insulting to the victims out there," Schuitmaker said. "If you've talked to any of these victims, I think they are not bringing this as a result of California trial lawyers. Certainly I think every individual and victim out there deserves to be represented.”

His appearance was a stark⁹ contrast to the typical deference¹⁰ of lobbyists and officials who show up to plead their case before lawmakers.

Engler was a political legend for unseating a Democratic incumbent¹¹ in the 1990 race for governor and for re-inventing Michigan's school funding system by basically winning a game of political chicken.

Engler was controversially brought in by the MSU Board of Trustees to navigate¹² the school's rehabilitation¹³ from the Larry Nassar scandal. Political watchers in Lansing are now transfixed by the return of Engler and whether he's up to the challenge.

Engler's been gone from Lansing for 15 years. That's two governors ago. The Republicans who remember Engler for guiding the Michigan GOP out of the political wilderness¹⁴ are no longer serving in the Legislature.

Current members who did not come up under Engler's tutelage - who didn't grow up with the legend - are less than impressed.

But remember, this is where he started out. Engler went to the Legislature straight out of college. And then to the governor's office.

He's figuring he still knows the Capitol and how it operates as well or better than its current occupants.

1 pugnacious   

adj.好斗的

参考例句：

• He is a pugnacious fighter.他是个好斗的战士。
• When he was a child,he was pugnacious and fought with everyone.他小时候很好斗，跟每个人都打过架。

2 interim   

adj.暂时的，临时的；n.间歇，过渡期间

参考例句：

• The government is taking interim measures to help those in immediate need.政府正在采取临时措施帮助那些有立即需要的人。
• It may turn out to be an interim technology.这可能只是个过渡技术。

3 legislative   

n.立法机构，立法权；adj.立法的，有立法权的

参考例句：

• Congress is the legislative branch of the U.S. government.国会是美国政府的立法部门。
• Today's hearing was just the first step in the legislative process.今天的听证会只是展开立法程序的第一步。

4 lawsuits   

n.诉讼( lawsuit的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Lawsuits involving property rights and farming and grazing rights increased markedly. 涉及财产权，耕作与放牧权的诉讼案件显著地增加。 来自辞典例句
• I've lost and won more lawsuits than any man in England. 全英国的人算我官司打得最多，赢的也多，输的也多。 来自辞典例句

5 tangled   

adj. 纠缠的，紊乱的 动词tangle的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• Your hair's so tangled that I can't comb it. 你的头发太乱了，我梳不动。
• A movement caught his eye in the tangled undergrowth. 乱灌木丛里的晃动引起了他的注意。

6 statute   

n.成文法，法令，法规；章程，规则，条例

参考例句：

• Protection for the consumer is laid down by statute.保障消费者利益已在法令里作了规定。
• The next section will consider this environmental statute in detail.下一部分将详细论述环境法令的问题。

7 immunity   

n.优惠；免除；豁免，豁免权

参考例句：

• The law gives public schools immunity from taxation.法律免除公立学校的纳税义务。
• He claims diplomatic immunity to avoid being arrested.他要求外交豁免以便避免被捕。

8 adversaries   

n.对手，敌手( adversary的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• That would cause potential adversaries to recoil from a challenge. 这会迫使潜在的敌人在挑战面前退缩。 来自辞典例句
• Every adversaries are more comfortable with a predictable, coherent America. 就连敌人也会因有可以预料的，始终一致的美国而感到舒服得多。 来自辞典例句

9 stark   

adj.荒凉的；严酷的；完全的；adv.完全地

参考例句：

• The young man is faced with a stark choice.这位年轻人面临严峻的抉择。
• He gave a stark denial to the rumor.他对谣言加以完全的否认。

10 deference   

n.尊重，顺从；敬意

参考例句：

• Do you treat your parents and teachers with deference?你对父母师长尊敬吗？
• The major defect of their work was deference to authority.他们的主要缺陷是趋从权威。

11 incumbent   

adj.成为责任的，有义务的；现任的，在职的

参考例句：

• He defeated the incumbent governor by a large plurality.他以压倒多数票击败了现任州长。
• It is incumbent upon you to warn them.你有责任警告他们。

12 navigate   

v.航行，飞行；导航，领航

参考例句：

• He was the first man to navigate the Atlantic by air.他是第一个飞越大西洋的人。
• Such boats can navigate on the Nile.这种船可以在尼罗河上航行。

13 rehabilitation   

n.康复，悔过自新，修复，复兴，复职，复位

参考例句：

• He's booked himself into a rehabilitation clinic.他自己联系了一家康复诊所。
• No one can really make me rehabilitation of injuries.已经没有人可以真正令我的伤康复了。

14 wilderness   

n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠

参考例句：

• She drove the herd of cattle through the wilderness.她赶着牛群穿过荒野。
• Education in the wilderness is not a matter of monetary means.荒凉地区的教育不是钱财问题。