Obama: No 'Silver Bullet' for Rising Gas Prices

 　　U.S. President Barack Obama says there is no "silver bullet" solution to offset¹ rising gas prices, despite promises of $2-a-gallon gasoline by some politicians.

　　During his weekly address Saturday, Mr. Obama said developing new energy sources such as wind, solar and biofuels are key to a sustainable energy solution over the long term.

　　He said increasing drilling is not a plan, "it's a bumper² sticker" to get politicians through an election.  President Obama says U.S. oil production is already at an 8-year high.

　　Mr. Obama chided Congress for continuing to reward profit-making oil companies with $4 billion in tax subsidies³. The president suggested Congress renew clean energy tax credits that he says would generate jobs and reduce the need for foreign oil.

　　In the Republican address, Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas said the president's policy is slowing down fuel exploration and drilling for oil and natural gas.  Senator Hutchison says limiting drilling projects takes away jobs in the oil industry.

　　She called on the president to get the Democratic majority in the Senate to back a bipartisan energy policy that she says would help American families.

1 offset   

n.分支，补偿；v.抵消，补偿

参考例句：

• Their wage increases would be offset by higher prices.他们增加的工资会被物价上涨所抵消。
• He put up his prices to offset the increased cost of materials.他提高了售价以补偿材料成本的增加。

2 bumper   

n.(汽车上的)保险杠；adj.特大的，丰盛的

参考例句：

• The painting represents the scene of a bumper harvest.这幅画描绘了丰收的景象。
• This year we have a bumper harvest in grain.今年我们谷物丰收。

3 subsidies   

n.补贴，津贴，补助金( subsidy的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• European agriculture ministers failed to break the deadlock over farm subsidies. 欧洲各国农业部长在农业补贴问题上未能打破僵局。
• Agricultural subsidies absorb about half the EU's income. 农业补贴占去了欧盟收入的大约一半。 来自《简明英汉词典》