VOA标准英语2009年-US Lawmakers Announce Agreement on Financial Me

A bipartisan group of House and Senate lawmakers has announced an agreement on a $789 billion measure aimed at helping¹ to jolt² the U.S. economy out of recession. Although many Republicans continue to oppose the measure, the deal in a House-Senate conference committee clears the way for final congressional votes.
　
Led by Senate Majority Leader Harry³ Reid, center, lawmakers announce agreement on $789 billion economic stimulus⁴ measure at the Capitol in Washington, 11 Feb 2009

Moving far more quickly than many had thought likely or possible, lawmakers in the 10 member House-Senate committee announced the agreement after less than 24 hours of negotiations⁶.

"Like any negotiation⁵, this involved give and take, and if you don't mind my saying that is an understatement," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

The agreement drops the total to $789 billion, while both Senate and House-passed measures exceeded $800 billion.

A combination of low and middle income tax cuts, making up about 35 percent of the bill, and domestic spending, its supporters say it meets President Barack Obama's goal of creating or saving as many as four million jobs.

Susan Collins of Maine was among only three moderate Senate Republicans who joined the Democratic majority there. She says money trimmed from the bill reflects an effort to focus it more sharply to help the economy.

"It is a fiscally-responsible number that reflects our efforts to truly focus this bill on programs, and policies and tax relief that will help turn our econ around, create jobs and provide relief to the families of our country," she said.

Collins said the agreement increases spending on infrastructure⁷ projects, more than $150 billion in the proposed measure.

Republican opponents kept up their criticisms, primarily that the measure contains un-targeted spending and not the right level of tax relief.

House Republican leader John Boehner voiced disappointment with the agreement, repeating his assertion that the measure will not create jobs quickly enough.

"It appears that they have made a bad bill worse by reducing the amount of tax relief for American families and small businesses, and adding more wasteful⁸ Washington spending," he said.

But Senator Arlen Specter, another moderate Republican who worked with Democrats⁹, said action was required.

"This is obviously a very difficult vote in view of the large deficit¹⁰ and national debt which we have, but I believe it is indispensable, that strong action be taken," he said.

White House aides, including Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, joined in the negotiations on Capitol Hill.

Lawmakers behind the agreement hope a final conference report will be ready in the next two days that the House and Senate will vote on. Approval would send the legislation to President Obama for signature.

An eventual¹¹ Senate vote is expected to mirror earlier results in which majority Democrats, with help from the three Republicans, achieved the 60 votes needed to overcome any procedural block.

It remains¹² to be seen how a vote will turn out in the House, where no Republicans supported a House-passed measure, but where Democrats hold a strong enough majority to pass measures easily.

Republican leaders declined to predict how many in their party might support final legislation.

1 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

2 jolt   

v.（使）摇动，（使）震动，（使）颠簸

参考例句：

• We were worried that one tiny jolt could worsen her injuries.我们担心稍微颠簸一下就可能会使她的伤势恶化。
• They were working frantically in the fear that an aftershock would jolt the house again.他们拼命地干着，担心余震可能会使房子再次受到震动。

3 harry   

vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
• Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。

4 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。

5 negotiation   

n.谈判，协商

参考例句：

• They closed the deal in sugar after a week of negotiation.经过一星期的谈判，他们的食糖生意成交了。
• The negotiation dragged on until July.谈判一直拖到7月份。

6 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

7 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

8 wasteful   

adj.（造成）浪费的，挥霍的

参考例句：

• It is a shame to be so wasteful.这样浪费太可惜了。
• Duties have been reassigned to avoid wasteful duplication of work.为避免重复劳动浪费资源，任务已经重新分派。

9 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》

10 deficit   

n.亏空，亏损；赤字，逆差

参考例句：

• The directors have reported a deficit of 2.5 million dollars.董事们报告赤字为250万美元。
• We have a great deficit this year.我们今年有很大亏损。

11 eventual   

adj.最后的，结局的，最终的

参考例句：

• Several schools face eventual closure.几所学校面临最终关闭。
• Both parties expressed optimism about an eventual solution.双方对问题的最终解决都表示乐观。

12 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。