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The Bush administration is defending its handling of the U.S. economy at a time of growing public unease. During a series of interviews on American television Treasury¹ Secretary Henry Paulson stressed the government will do what it takes to maintain stability in the financial system.

在公众对经济形势越来越感到不安的时候，布什政府为处理美国经济的作法进行辩护。在接受美国电视台采访的一系列节目中，财政部长保尔森强调说，政府将尽一切努力保持财政体系的稳定。

The White House is waging an all-out effort to ease election year fears about the economy.

白宫正在做出一切努力来平息人们在大选年对经济的担忧。

Polls show it is the number-one issue on the minds of most Americans, and from the president on down administration figures are seeking to reassure² the public.

调查显示，这是大多数美国人心中的头等大事。现在从总统到其他政府领导人都在寻求安抚民心。

They stress the fundamentals of the economy are sound, and steps are being taken to ensure the current slowdown is temporary. A stimulus³ package of tax rebates⁴ and small business incentives⁵ has been signed into law.

行政当局说，经济的基本面是健康的，政府也在采取步骤保证让经济增长减缓的现象在短期内结束。一个退税和鼓励小型企业的刺激经济的一揽子计划已经由总统签署成为法律。

And on Friday, the U.S. central bank helped strengthen a major investment firm facing collapse⁶. The firm - Bear Stearns - was caught up in the crisis in the home mortgage market.

星期五，美国中央银行帮助稳固了一个面临垮台的主要投资公司贝尔斯登，这个公司被住房贷款市场危机压得喘不过气来。

On CNN's Late Edition program, Treasury Secretary Paulson said the action taken by the Federal Reserve was warranted.

在有线电视新闻网的夜间节目中，财长保尔森说，美联储采取的行动是有根据的。

"Our number-one priority with everything we are doing in the economic arena⁷ is to minimize instability, minimize spill over into the real economy, and I think that is pretty clear from the actions you have seen the government take," said Paulson.

他说：“在我们为经济领域所作的一切努力中的当务之急，就是把不稳定因素降至最低，把它对经济的影响降到最低，我认为从你看到政府采取的行动中，这一点是非常清楚的。”

Paulson said officials are continuing to keep a close watch on the turmoil⁸ on the financial markets, but declined to say if the government would step in again to rescue an investment firm.

保尔森说，政府官员继续保持对金融市场动荡的密切关注，但是同时拒绝说明政府会不会再次插手来挽救投资公司。

Instead, he tried to keep the focus on the positive. During an appearance on ABC's This Week program, he expressed confidence that the financial markets would work their way out of the current crisis.

不过他试图集中讨论积极因素。在美国广播公司这个星期的节目中，保尔森对金融市场会最终走出目前的危机表达了他的信心。

"Our financial institutions - our banks and investment banks - are very strong and I am convinced that they are going to come out of this situation very strong," he said. "Our markets are resilient, flexible. I am quite confident we are going to work our way through this situation."

他说：“我们的金融机构、银行和投资银行都非常强劲，我肯定它们会以强势走出这种形势。我们的市场有生气，很灵活。我有信心我们能通过努力摆脱这种局面。”

But top Democrats⁹ in Congress are less sure about the prospects¹⁰ for a speedy recovery, and they are putting the blame for the nation's economic woes¹¹ squarely on the Bush White House.

不过，国会的高层民主党人对经济迅速恢复的前景不如行政当局那样有信心。他们把国家经济困境完全归咎于布什政府。

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told This Week the Bush administration waited too long to take action.

国会众议院议长佩洛西在本周节目上说，布什政府采取的行动为时过晚。

"I think that much of what the administration has done has been too late," said Nancy Pelosi.

她说：“我认为行政当局采取的绝大部分措施都已经太晚了。”

Pelosi noted¹² that Democrats are already working on a second economic-stimulus package. President Bush has said he wants to give the current plan a chance to work before taking further measures.

佩洛西指出，民主党已经开始制定第二个刺激经济的整体计划。布什总统曾说他要给目前的计划一个机会，观察效果，然后再考虑采取进一步措施。

The president meets with his advisory¹³ panel on financial markets on Monday. Among those taking part in the discussions will be Paulson and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke.

布什总统计划星期一要和他的顾问小组磋商金融市场的问题。在参加磋商的人员中包括财政部长保尔森和中央银行行长伯南克。