VOA常速英语2008年-Bush Calls for Action on Economic Challenges

By Michael Bowman
White House
29 April 2008

President George Bush says the United States faces difficult economic times - a situation made worse by congressional inaction.  VOA's Michael Bowman reports from the White House, where Mr. Bush held a news conference.

President Bush says he does not know whether America's sagging¹ economic performance meets the technical definition of a recession.  But he says, without a doubt, conditions are "tough" for Americans struggling with high energy prices, soaring food costs, a plummeting² housing market and tight credit.
"Across our country, many Americans are understandably anxious about issues affecting their pocketbook: from gas and food prices to mortgage and tuition bills," Mr. Bush said.

Speaking in the White House Rose Garden, Mr. Bush said his administration has made a series of proposals to shield the American people from the worst effects of the economic turndown and to address long-term energy needs.  But, he said Congress has refused to act on the proposals from extending tax cuts to expanding America's oil refinery³ capacity.

He was particularly critical of congressional resistance to authorizing⁴ oil exploration in a national wildlife refuge in Alaska, known as ANWAR.

"Members of Congress have been vocal⁵ about foreign governments increasing their oil production, yet Congress has been just as vocal in opposition⁶ to efforts to expand our production here at home," Mr. Bush said. "They have repeatedly blocked environmentally safe exploration in ANWAR.  The Department of Energy estimates that ANWAR could allow America to produce about a million additional barrels of oil every day."

Mr. Bush urged congressional leaders of both parties to work together and take concrete steps to address America's economic and energy needs.

His comments provoked a swift response from congressional Democrats⁷, who control both legislative⁸ houses.  New York Senator Charles Schumer says the president is out of touch with the American people, and late in leading the charge for action on the economy.

"The president and the White House have repeatedly ignored repeated shots across the bow of our economy: rising foreclosures, falling home prices, withering⁹ consumer confidence, and record oil company profits," Schumer said. "None of them are being addressed."

On Alaskan oil drilling, Mr. Schumer said it would take years before new crude started flowing, and that the oil generated would have a negligible affect on gasoline prices.

The back-and-forth between the White House and Capitol Hill on economic matters came amid a mixed batch¹⁰ of U.S. financial indicators¹¹. U.S. consumer confidence now stands at a five-year low, a sign that consumer spending may slow in the months to come.  Another report shows U.S. housing prices dropped in February at the fastest rate ever recorded. 

On a more positive note for American consumers, oil prices receded¹² amid reports of falling domestic demand for fossil fuels.

1 sagging   

下垂[沉，陷]，松垂，垂度

参考例句：

• The morale of the enemy troops is continuously sagging. 敌军的士气不断低落。
• We are sagging south. 我们的船正离开航线向南漂流。

2 plummeting   

v.垂直落下，骤然跌落( plummet的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Prices are rising, falling, going up, going down, shooting up, plummeting, etc. 物价在上涨、下跌、上升、下落、猛然上涨、骤然下跌等。 来自辞典例句
• The enemy plane went plummeting into the sea. 敌机直直掉进海里。 来自辞典例句

3 refinery   

n.精炼厂，提炼厂

参考例句：

• They built a sugar refinery.他们建起了一座榨糖厂。
• The purpose of oil refinery is to refine crude petroleum.炼油厂的主要工作是提炼原油。

4 authorizing   

授权，批准，委托( authorize的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Letters of Marque: Take letters from a warning friendly power authorizing privateering. 私掠许可证：从某一个国家获得合法抢劫的证书。
• Formal phavee completion does not include authorizing the subsequent phavee. 阶段的正式完成不包括核准随后的阶段。

5 vocal   

adj.直言不讳的；嗓音的；n.[pl.]声乐节目

参考例句：

• The tongue is a vocal organ.舌头是一个发音器官。
• Public opinion at last became vocal.终于舆论哗然。

6 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。

7 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》

8 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。

9 withering   

使人畏缩的，使人害羞的，使人难堪的

参考例句：

• She gave him a withering look. 她极其蔑视地看了他一眼。
• The grass is gradually dried-up and withering and pallen leaves. 草渐渐干枯、枯萎并落叶。

10 batch   

n.一批(组，群)；一批生产量

参考例句：

• The first batch of cakes was burnt.第一炉蛋糕烤焦了。
• I have a batch of letters to answer.我有一批信要回复。

11 indicators   

（仪器上显示温度、压力、耗油量等的）指针( indicator的名词复数 )； 指示物； （车辆上的）转弯指示灯； 指示信号

参考例句：

• The economic indicators are better than expected. 经济指标比预期的好。
• It is still difficult to develop indicators for many concepts used in social science. 为社会科学领域的许多概念确立一个指标仍然很难。

12 receded   

v.逐渐远离( recede的过去式和过去分词 )；向后倾斜；自原处后退或避开别人的注视；尤指问题

参考例句：

• The floodwaters have now receded. 洪水现已消退。
• The sound of the truck receded into the distance. 卡车的声音渐渐在远处消失了。