VOA常速英语2008年-Bush Expresses Confidence in America's Economic

By Scott Stearns
White House
15 March 2008

President Bush says his stimulus¹ plan of tax rebates² and business incentives³, passed by Congress last month, will  help energize⁴ a slowing U.S. economy. VOA White House Correspondent Scott Stearns reports, opposition⁵ Democrats⁶ want more help for lower and middle class workers.

President Bush says he understands that American families are concerned about a slowing economy.

"In the long run, we can be confident that our economy will continue to grow, but in the short run, it is clear that growth has slowed," he said.

Higher gasoline and food prices are depressing retail⁷ sales, and the U.S. housing market has been in decline. The economy lost 80,000 jobs over the last two months.  Some economists⁸ say the U.S. is already in a recession. But the Bush administration is not calling it that.

In his weekly radio address, President Bush says his administration recognized the slowdown early and worked with Congress on an economic stimulus package. The deal he signed last month includes tax incentives for businesses that invest in new equipment this year and tax rebates for more than 130 million families.

"My economic team, along with many outside experts, expects this stimulus package to have a positive effect on our economy in the second quarter," he added.  "And they expect it to have even a stronger effect in the third quarter, when the full effects of the $152 billion in tax cuts are felt."

In the Democrats' radio address, North Dakota Senator Kent Conrad says a $3 trillion budget plan approved by the Senate Friday includes provisions proposed by the Democrats, but cut from the economic stimulus plan, including extended unemployment assistance, food stamps, and home heating assistance.

"With so many Americans hurting, we can not afford to take the president's wait-and-see approach any longer," he said.  "It is time to act. The Democratic budget does just that."

President Bush wants Congress to make his record tax cuts permanent. The Senate plan continues some of those cuts for lower and middle class workers, but not for wealthier Americans.

1 stimulus   

n.刺激，刺激物，促进因素，引起兴奋的事物

参考例句：

• Regard each failure as a stimulus to further efforts.把每次失利看成对进一步努力的激励。
• Light is a stimulus to growth in plants.光是促进植物生长的一个因素。

2 rebates   

n.退还款( rebate的名词复数 )；回扣；返还（退还的部份货价）；折扣

参考例句：

• The VAT system offers advantages, such as rebates on exports. 增值税有其优点，如对出口商品实行回扣。 来自辞典例句
• In more recent years rate rebates have been introduced for households. 近年地方税的减免已适用于家庭。 来自辞典例句

3 incentives   

激励某人做某事的事物( incentive的名词复数 )； 刺激； 诱因； 动机

参考例句：

• tax incentives to encourage savings 鼓励储蓄的税收措施
• Furthermore, subsidies provide incentives only for investments in equipment. 更有甚者，提供津贴仅是为鼓励增添设备的投资。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

4 energize   

vt.给予(某人或某物)精力、能量

参考例句：

• It is used to energize the city.它的作用是为城市供给能量。
• This is a great way to energize yourself and give yourself more power!这种方法非常棒，可以激活你的能量，让你有更多的活力！

5 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。

6 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》

7 retail   

v./n.零售；adv.以零售价格

参考例句：

• In this shop they retail tobacco and sweets.这家铺子零售香烟和糖果。
• These shoes retail at 10 yuan a pair.这些鞋子零卖10元一双。

8 economists   

n.经济学家，经济专家( economist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The sudden rise in share prices has confounded economists. 股价的突然上涨使经济学家大惑不解。
• Foreign bankers and economists cautiously welcomed the minister's initiative. 外国银行家和经济学家对部长的倡议反应谨慎。 来自《简明英汉词典》