NPR美国国家公共电台 2013-03-28

 

　　From NPR News in Washington, I'm Lakshmi Singh.

 

　　The majority of Supreme¹ Court justices may be leaning towards striking down 1996 Defense² of Marriage Act with a potential swing vote from Justice Anthony Kennedy. That is if they get to the merits of DOMA's constitutionality. The federal law defining marriage is a union between a man and woman, denies federal benefits to legally married same-sex couples. NPR's Nina Totenberg says today's case was divided in two parts first, the U.S. House leadership is the only party defending the law, prompting justices to ask whether that is enough for the court to even decide the case; the second part, she says, has to do with the merits of DOMA.

 

　　If the court gets to the merits of this case, there very likely are five votes to strike down DOMA. Now on what grounds? That's an interesting question, because Justice Kennedy seemed to be saying, look, it's not the federal government's business to define marriage. Marriage is defined by the states and the federal government has always recognized the definition of marriage, but the states have. Other justices seemed to be more concerned about the lack of equality represented in the law. NPR's Nina Totenberg.

 

　　Crowds of people waving American flags and signs reading "equality" now have been rallying outside the Supreme Court building for a second day. The challenge to the Defense of Marriage Act being considered by the court is based on taxes. But NPR's Craig Windham reports the demonstrators are focused on the larger issues involved.

 

　　Retired³ military officer Beth Pepper of Virginia wants the court to strike down the law.

 

　　It really is more than just about the taxes.

 

　　Pepper says her wife should be treated the same as other military spouses⁵.

 

　　There are so many benefits as a retired military officer that my male spouse⁴ would be eligible⁶ for but my female spouse is not.

 

　　Pepper's wife Lisa Williams says a favorable ruling by the court would help legitimize her marriage in the eyes of family members and friends.

 

　　They want to treat us as we are a married couple, but they need to see that society and our government has put that stamp of approval on us as well. Craig Windham, NPR News, outside the Supreme Court.

 

　　Yesterday, the court examined Proposition 8, California's voter approved ban on same-sex marriage.

 

　　Cyprus will reopen its banks tomorrow for the first time about two weeks, but people will still be limited in how much they can withdraw. State News Agency says people won't be able to withdraw more than 300 euros a day. Chris Perry, British financial consultant⁷ living in Cyprus tells Sky News the government's latest plan to tax depositor savings⁸ remained financially float, scares many foreign retirees.

 

　　For the majority of retired, and what that means is what we've got here is it.

 

　　At last check on Wall Street, Dow was down 34 points at 14,526.

 

　　This is NPR News.

 

　　Speculation⁹ has been mounting that the Federal Reserve will make its monitory policy less stimulative¹⁰. But Steve Beckner of Market News International reports that four Federal Reserve Bank regional presidents are giving no hint of any near-term moves in that direction.

 

　　Though few think the Fed will raise short-term interest rates in the foreseeable future. Talk has grown that it may in the bond-buying it has been doing to hold down long-term rates. But Chicago Fed President Charles Evans and Boston Fed Chief Eric Rosengren, who vote on rates, say the Fed needs to keep buying $85 billion of treasury¹¹ and mortgage-backed securities per month through this year to reduce unemployment in a low inflation climate. They don't rule out scaling back bond purchases, if the economy improves, but say the Fed could also increase them. Similar comments come from Chicago Fed President Sandra Pianalto. The Minneapolis Fed Narayana Kocherlakota says money isn't enough. For NPR News, I'm Steve Beckner, in New York.

 

　　Guantanamo prisoners on a hunger strike are lodging¹² new complaints against guards at the facility housing terror suspects. In an emergency motion filed in federal court, human rights lawyers say jailers at the U.S. prison in Cuba have refused to provide drinking water to the strikers and are keeping the inmates¹³ in extremely frigid¹⁴ conditions. Guantanamo Bay  officials denied the allegation.

 

　　Reuters News Service is reporting that a Canadian Pacific Railway train has derailed in west central Minnesota. The report says as much as 30,000 gallons of crude oil may have spilled.

 

　　Before the closing bell, Dow was down 34 at 14,526.

 

　　I'm Lakshmi Singh, NPR News.

1 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

2 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。

3 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

4 spouse   

n.配偶(指夫或妻)

参考例句：

• Her spouse will come to see her on Sunday.她的丈夫星期天要来看她。
• What is the best way to keep your spouse happy in the marriage?在婚姻中保持配偶幸福的最好方法是什么？

5 spouses   

n.配偶，夫或妻( spouse的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Jobs are available for spouses on campus and in the community. 校园里和社区里有配偶可做的工作。 来自辞典例句
• An astonishing number of spouses-most particularly in the upper-income brackets-have no close notion of their husbands'paychecks. 相当大一部分妇女——特别在高收入阶层——并不很了解他们丈夫的薪金。 来自辞典例句

6 eligible   

adj.有条件被选中的；(尤指婚姻等)合适(意)的

参考例句：

• He is an eligible young man.他是一个合格的年轻人。
• Helen married an eligible bachelor.海伦嫁给了一个中意的单身汉。

7 consultant   

n.顾问；会诊医师，专科医生

参考例句：

• He is a consultant on law affairs to the mayor.他是市长的一个法律顾问。
• Originally,Gar had agreed to come up as a consultant.原来，加尔只答应来充当我们的顾问。

8 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。

9 speculation   

n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机

参考例句：

• Her mind is occupied with speculation.她的头脑忙于思考。
• There is widespread speculation that he is going to resign.人们普遍推测他要辞职。

10 stimulative   

n.刺激，促进因素adj.刺激的，激励的，促进的

参考例句：

• Do you want to enjoy the absolutely stimulative experience? 你想享受魔兽游戏带来的绝对刺激的体验吗？ 来自互联网
• Discussed follow pattern of demand, the way that stimulative technology progresses. 探讨了遵循供求规律，促进技术进步的途径。 来自互联网

11 treasury   

n.宝库；国库，金库；文库

参考例句：

• The Treasury was opposed in principle to the proposals.财政部原则上反对这些提案。
• This book is a treasury of useful information.这本书是有价值的信息宝库。

12 lodging   

n.寄宿，住所；(大学生的)校外宿舍

参考例句：

• The bill is inclusive of the food and lodging. 账单包括吃、住费用。
• Where can you find lodging for the night? 你今晚在哪里借宿?

13 inmates   

n.囚犯( inmate的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• One of the inmates has escaped. 被收容的人中有一个逃跑了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The inmates were moved to an undisclosed location. 监狱里的囚犯被转移到一个秘密处所。 来自《简明英汉词典》

14 frigid   

adj.寒冷的，凛冽的；冷淡的；拘禁的

参考例句：

• The water was too frigid to allow him to remain submerged for long.水冰冷彻骨，他在下面呆不了太长时间。
• She returned his smile with a frigid glance.对他的微笑她报以冷冷的一瞥。