VOA标准英语2009年-US House Approves Economic Stimulus Against Rep

In a major victory for President Barack Obama, the House of Representatives has approved, by a vote of 246 to 183, a $787 billion measure that tries to create jobs, spur growth, and kick the U.S. economy out of recession through tax cuts and domestic spending.
　
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, fourth from left, speaks at a news conference on Capitol Hill, 13 Feb 2009, after the House passed the stimulus¹ legislation

In the House final vote, Republicans again withheld² their support from the measure, as they had done when the House voted on its initial economic measure last month. All but seven Democrats⁴ voted for the legislation

At a cost newly calculated by the Congressional Budget Office at $787 billion, it directs spending at numerous domestic sectors⁵ of the economy, aiming to spur growth through a range of tax credits for businesses and aid to states.

Most Republicans fiercely opposed the bill as a wasteful⁶, inefficient⁷ expansion of government programs that will worsen the deficit⁸ and fail to deliver enough stimulus.

"This opportunity lost is more than sad, because the American people believed that this was sacrifice for modernization⁹, for higher productivity, for creation of jobs, and that is not what it is," said Republican Lincoln Diaz Balart.

Democrats said the financial crisis grew from failed economic policies under the Bush administration, during which the federal deficit climbed to record levels.

California Democrat³ George Miller¹⁰ acknowledged that the measure alone will not fix the economy but does take a major step, and he responded this way to Republican criticisms.

"When this country cries out to help this economy, to help America's families, who are unemployed¹¹ who are losing income who are losing jobs, President Obama stepped forward with the American Recovery Act. Republicans stepped forth¹² with saying 'no,'" he said.

The bill includes slightly lower tax reductions than sought by President Obama, credits for businesses, billions in aid to U.S. states to help support the low-income government Medicaid program, and money for unemployment insurance.

Spending projects amount to more than $300 billion, ranging from education to health care, transportation and highway infrastructure¹³, and support for businesses developing alternative energy.

Republicans accused Democrats of providing insufficient¹⁴ time for lawmakers to examine the 1,000-page bill, insisting a Republican alternative would create twice as many jobs.

An angry House Republican leader John Boehner made a final appeal against the bill. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi urged approval.
　
House Minority Leader, Republican John Boehner of Ohio on Capitol Hill, 27 Jan 2009

"I can tell you what I said 18 years ago [when I came to Congress], that I would come here to fight for a smaller, less costly¹⁵ federal government. This is the epitome¹⁶, the epitome, of what I came here to stop," said Boehner.

"Congress is boldly and swiftly delivering on the president's promise of new jobs, new hope, and a new direction for the American people," said Pelosi.

Republicans claim the true cost of the legislation to the government exceeds $1 trillion, saying it contains numerous spending provisions that do not belong in a stimulus bill.

House Appropriations¹⁷ Chairman David Obey drew another contrast with past Bush administration policies, calling the measure the biggest change in domestic policy since the 1930s.

"Today we have a president who is willing to invest $800 billion to attack this recession and to turn this economy into a stronger and better economy, for every American, not just the top 10 percent who have benefited from Republican policies," he said.

Among its provisions, the legislation would automatically raise the ceiling on the national debt to more than $12 trillion.

A final vote in the Senate is expected to mirror earlier votes, as Democrats achieved the 60 vote majority threshold required with the help of only three moderate Senate Republicans.

Final approval of the hard-fought legislation after Senate action would send it to President Obama for his signature, giving him an important victory as he confronts the crisis in the U.S. economy and takes steps to stabilize¹⁸ the financial system.

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 withheld   

withhold过去式及过去分词

参考例句：

• I withheld payment until they had fulfilled the contract. 他们履行合同后，我才付款。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• There was no school play because the principal withheld his consent. 由于校长没同意，学校里没有举行比赛。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 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。

4 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》

5 sectors   

n.部门( sector的名词复数 )；领域；防御地区；扇形

参考例句：

• Berlin was divided into four sectors after the war. 战后柏林分成了4 个区。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Industry and agriculture are the two important sectors of the national economy. 工业和农业是国民经济的两个重要部门。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

6 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。

7 inefficient   

adj.效率低的，无效的

参考例句：

• The inefficient operation cost the firm a lot of money.低效率的运作使该公司损失了许多钱。
• Their communication systems are inefficient in the extreme.他们的通讯系统效率非常差。

8 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。

9 modernization   

n.现代化，现代化的事物

参考例句：

• This will help us achieve modernization.这有助于我们实现现代化。
• The Chinese people are sure to realize the modernization of their country.中国人民必将实现国家现代化。

10 miller   

n.磨坊主

参考例句：

• Every miller draws water to his own mill.磨坊主都往自己磨里注水。
• The skilful miller killed millions of lions with his ski.技术娴熟的磨坊主用雪橇杀死了上百万头狮子。

11 unemployed   

adj.失业的，没有工作的；未动用的，闲置的

参考例句：

• There are now over four million unemployed workers in this country.这个国家现有四百万失业人员。
• The unemployed hunger for jobs.失业者渴望得到工作。

12 forth   

adv.向前；向外，往外

参考例句：

• The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

13 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。

14 insufficient   

adj.(for，of)不足的，不够的

参考例句：

• There was insufficient evidence to convict him.没有足够证据给他定罪。
• In their day scientific knowledge was insufficient to settle the matter.在他们的时代，科学知识还不能足以解决这些问题。

15 costly   

adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的

参考例句：

• It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
• This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用，左不过贵了些。

16 epitome   

n.典型，梗概

参考例句：

• He is the epitome of goodness.他是善良的典范。
• This handbook is a neat epitome of everyday hygiene.这本手册概括了日常卫生的要点。

17 appropriations   

n.挪用（appropriation的复数形式）

参考例句：

• More commonly, funding controls are imposed in the annual appropriations process. 更普遍的作法是，拨款控制被规定在年度拨款手续中。 来自英汉非文学 - 行政法
• Should the president veto the appropriations bill, it goes back to Congress. 假如总统否决了这项拨款提案，就把它退还给国会。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件

18 stabilize   

vt.（使）稳定，使稳固，使稳定平衡；vi.稳定

参考例句：

• They are eager to stabilize currencies.他们急于稳定货币。
• His blood pressure tended to stabilize.他的血压趋向稳定。