2006年VOA标准英语-Bush Pushes for Plan to Reduce Energy Cost

By Scott Stearns
Washington
22 April 2006

President Bush  
  
With crude oil prices topping $75 a barrel, President Bush wants Congressional action on a plan he says will reduce energy costs.  Opposition¹ Democrats³ are using record high prices to criticize the president's energy policy, as they look ahead to this year's Congressional elections.

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President Bush wants Congress to act on an energy initiative that he says will change the way Americans power their homes, businesses and cars.

He wants more funding for hydrogen fuel cells, which emit no pollution, and are more efficient than gasoline-driven engines. The plan also backs more research into electric hybrid⁴ vehicles that he says could allow many drivers to make their daily commute⁵, without burning any gasoline.

"By developing these and other new sources of clean renewable energy, like ethanol, we will continue growing our economy, reduce energy prices and protect our environment, and make America less dependent on foreign oil," said Mr. Bush.

The president is under pressure to do something about higher energy costs at a time of record low pubic approval ratings.

A Washington Post / ABC News poll says 70 percent of Americans say higher gas prices are causing them financial hardship.  And most are blaming President Bush with 74 percent disapproving⁶ of how he is handling those higher prices.

That is not likely to get better any time soon, with oil industry analysts⁷ predicting still higher prices, fueled by concerns about the stand-off over Iran's nuclear program and violence disrupting production in Nigeria.

Opposition Democrats are hoping to capitalize on voter anxiety, with nearly one-third of Democratic Senate candidates staging campaign events this weekend focusing on higher energy costs.

Democrats feel the president is particularly vulnerable on this issue, as both he and Vice⁸ President Dick Cheney have worked in the oil sector⁹. In the Democratic radio address, Florida Senator Bill Nelson attacked Bush administration tax cuts for oil producers.

"Americans are frustrated¹⁰, and sick and tired of billion-dollar giveaways for oil companies, while the price of gas is going through the roof," said Mr. Nelson.

Nelson says President Bush is aware of the problem, but says his words are not backed up with the tough policy changes needed to make a real difference. The Democrat² criticized what he says is a Republican focus on more drilling, which he says cannot solve the problem in a country that consumes one-quarter of the world's oil production, but has just three percent of its known reserves.

"We simply cannot drill our way out of this problem," added Mr. Nelson.  "We have to take more dramatic steps, including conservation. First, we must confront some powerful interests, including the oil lobby."

Nelson says President Bush must do more to promote the production of synthetic¹¹ fuel from coal. While Nelson says technology exists to dramatically increase efficiency standards in passenger vehicles, but President Bush is pushing a more modest gain for light trucks.

President Bush continued to push his energy plan on Earth Day with a visit to a California partnership¹² working on hydrogen fuel cells for cars.

1 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

2 democrat   

n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员

参考例句：

• The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
• About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。

3 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》

4 hybrid   

n.(动，植）杂种，混合物

参考例句：

• That is a hybrid perpetual rose.那是一株杂交的四季开花的蔷薇。
• The hybrid was tall,handsome,and intelligent.那混血儿高大、英俊、又聪明。

5 commute   

vi.乘车上下班；vt.减(刑)；折合；n.上下班交通

参考例句：

• I spend much less time on my commute to work now.我现在工作的往返时间要节省好多。
• Most office workers commute from the suburbs.很多公司的职员都是从郊外来上班的。

6 disapproving   

adj.不满的，反对的v.不赞成( disapprove的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Mother gave me a disapproving look. 母亲的眼神告诉我她是不赞成的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Her father threw a disapproving glance at her. 她父亲不满地瞥了她一眼。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

8 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

9 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

10 frustrated   

adj.挫败的，失意的，泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的过去式和过去分词 )；挫败；使受挫折；令人沮丧

参考例句：

• It's very easy to get frustrated in this job. 这个工作很容易令人懊恼。
• The bad weather frustrated all our hopes of going out. 恶劣的天气破坏了我们出行的愿望。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 synthetic   

adj.合成的，人工的；综合的；n.人工制品

参考例句：

• We felt the salesman's synthetic friendliness.我们感觉到那位销售员的虚情假意。
• It's a synthetic diamond.这是人造钻石。

12 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。