CNN 2011-03-02

Hey there. I'm Carl Azuz and this is CNN Student News! It's the end of an era for one generation of American history. We're gonna explain why in just a few. But we start today in Washington, D.C.

Congress is back in session, and the House and Senate are staring down a pretty big deadline. Has to do with how the federal government pays for what it does. Congress has to approve bills that determine how the government spends money. So far this year, they haven't approved a bill. They're using a temporary solution, but that is scheduled to end this Friday.

There was talk yesterday that a deal was in the works. But if they can't come up with a compromise, the government might shut down. And if that happens, some things will keep running. The mail will still get delivered. Air traffic controllers will keep directing planes. But thousands of government workers would have to stay home. Any trips to national parks or museums? Nope; they would be closed. So, there is a lot at stake here. And Sandra Endo is covering the negotiations² happening on Capitol Hill. Sandra, what do you have?

Carl, this week is crucial. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle³ have to get together in agreement so that the government doesn't shut down. House Speaker John Boehner says he wants congressional Democrats⁴ to accept a short-term spending plan which would cut $4 billion. Now, the proposal would extend government funding for two weeks. The current spending plan expires Friday at midnight. So if no agreement is reached, the federal government could shut down on Saturday, which would be the first time in 15 years.

Now, the House already passed a spending measure cutting $61 billion from the current levels for the rest of the fiscal⁵ year, which ends on September 30. Senate Democrats say they don't want those cuts; they want to invest in areas like clean energy and other key proposals. Now, both sides, though, do say they want to work together to avoid a government shutdown, and negotiations are underway.

We have a moral responsibility to address the problems that we face. And that means working together to cut spending and to rein⁶ in government, not shutting it down.

It is acceptable to me to have $4 billion in savings⁷ in a two-week package. Sure. The make-up of that is up for discussion and negotiation¹. That negotiation's ongoing⁸. I'm confident we'll achieve a conclusion on that.

Confidence, but also some fears. Democrats are saying that they think maybe Republicans would force a government shutdown if they don't get everything they want. So, the key word here on Capitol Hill is compromise. That's the latest from here in Washington. I'm Sandra Endo. Carl, back to you.

1 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。

2 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。

3 aisle   

n.（教堂、教室、戏院等里的）过道，通道

参考例句：

• The aisle was crammed with people.过道上挤满了人。
• The girl ushered me along the aisle to my seat.引座小姐带领我沿着通道到我的座位上去。

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 fiscal   

adj.财政的，会计的，国库的，国库岁入的

参考例句：

• The increase of taxation is an important fiscal policy.增税是一项重要的财政政策。
• The government has two basic strategies of fiscal policy available.政府有两个可行的财政政策基本战略。

6 rein   

n.疆绳，统治，支配；vt.以僵绳控制，统治

参考例句：

• The horse answered to the slightest pull on the rein.只要缰绳轻轻一拉,马就作出反应。
• He never drew rein for a moment till he reached the river.他一刻不停地一直跑到河边。

7 savings   

n.存款，储蓄

参考例句：

• I can't afford the vacation,for it would eat up my savings.我度不起假，那样会把我的积蓄用光的。
• By this time he had used up all his savings.到这时，他的存款已全部用完。

8 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。