美国国家公共电台 NPR--In Ohio, Biden addressed a friendly crowd of labor leaders and union workers

In Ohio, Biden addressed a friendly crowd of labor¹ leaders and union workers

Transcript²

President Biden flew to Cleveland to make the case for his economic agenda. Polls show Americans have grown pessimistic about his ability to rein³ in inflation amid growing fears of a recession.

LEILA FADEL, HOST:

President Biden is trying to make a case that he's helped boost the middle class. Biden traveled to the bellwether⁴ state of Ohio with this message, even as polls suggest Americans are souring on how he's handled the economy. NPR's Barbara Sprunt reports.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN: There's no other place I want to be than right here with the workers in this room and the workers that build America. I see you. I hear you. And I'll always have your back, I promise.

BARBARA SPRUNT, BYLINE⁵: This was a friendly crowd for President Biden - labor leaders and union workers who cheered his remarks about unions in America.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

BIDEN: Because when unions do well, everybody does well.

SPRUNT: He reminded them he looked after them in his big COVID relief bill last year. That bill included supports for union pension plans that were in trouble.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

BIDEN: Two hundred multi-employer pension plans for 2 to 3 million workers and retirees were going insolvent⁶. What that means to those 2 or 3 million workers - they faced painful cuts to the benefits they counted on and for the dignified⁷ security of retirement⁸.

SPRUNT: One of those people is James Chester. He drove 2 1/2 hours to hear the president yesterday, and he's hoping to get back some of the money he lost from a struggling pension plan after working 37 years in sheet metal construction.

JAMES CHESTER: It was a light at the end of the tunnel, and he finally passed this law, and it made the old man smile that we may get this money back now.

SPRUNT: In his speech, Biden talked about the progress he's made - more jobs and cuts to unemployment. And he drew a contrast with Republicans, who he said are mostly looking to help the rich.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

BIDEN: Not one single solitary⁹ Republican voted for the Butch Lewis Act, this legislation.

SPRUNT: Chester says he thinks Biden is doing what he can, but he's worried high prices at the pump and grocery stores could hurt Democrats¹⁰ in the midterm elections.

CHESTER: What Biden did today was a step in the right direction to energize¹¹ the labor force to come out and vote because if we don't vote, we're going to lose. So if the Democrats come out and get excited about what's going on, we can hold the Senate, and we can hold the Congress.

SPRUNT: Recent national polls show that could be an uphill climb. Biden is getting low marks on his handling of the economy, something Chester says Biden and his Democrats will have to work hard to overcome to get out the vote come November.

Barbara Sprunt, NPR News, Cleveland, Ohio.

1 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

2 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

3 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。

4 bellwether   

n.系铃的公羊，前导，领导者，群众的首领

参考例句：

• University campuses are often the bellwether of change.大学校园往往引领变革的新潮。
• For decades the company was the bellwether of the British economy.几十年来，这家公司一直是英国经济的晴雨表。

5 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

6 insolvent   

adj.破产的，无偿还能力的

参考例句：

• They lost orders and were insolvent within weeks.他们失去了订货，几周后就无法偿还债务。
• The bank was declared insolvent.银行被宣布破产。

7 dignified   

a.可敬的，高贵的

参考例句：

• Throughout his trial he maintained a dignified silence. 在整个审讯过程中，他始终沉默以保持尊严。
• He always strikes such a dignified pose before his girlfriend. 他总是在女友面前摆出这种庄严的姿态。

8 retirement   

n.退休，退职

参考例句：

• She wanted to enjoy her retirement without being beset by financial worries.她想享受退休生活而不必为金钱担忧。
• I have to put everything away for my retirement.我必须把一切都积蓄起来以便退休后用。

9 solitary   

adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士

参考例句：

• I am rather fond of a solitary stroll in the country.我颇喜欢在乡间独自徜徉。
• The castle rises in solitary splendour on the fringe of the desert.这座城堡巍然耸立在沙漠的边际，显得十分壮美。

10 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》

11 energize   

vt.给予(某人或某物)精力、能量

参考例句：

• It is used to energize the city.它的作用是为城市供给能量。
• This is a great way to energize yourself and give yourself more power!这种方法非常棒，可以激活你的能量，让你有更多的活力！