美国有线新闻 CNN 美副总统彭斯投关键一票 参议院通过教育部长提名

 

AZUZ: But it wasn't until yesterday, the first time since 1788 that the Constitution's Article I Section 3 Clause 4 played out for a president's cabinet nominee¹. The clause says that "The vice² president of the United States shall be president of the Senate but shall have no vote, unless they be equally divided." "They" meaning senators.

When it came time for them to vote on Betsy DeVos, President Donald Trump³'s nominee for education secretary, 50 senators voted to confirm her, 50 voted against confirming her, that included two Republicans who hold a two-seat majority in the Senate. So, the tie breaking vote was cast by U.S. Vice President Mike Pence.

MIKE PENCE, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: On this vote, they yeas are 50, the nays⁴ are 50. The Senate being equally divided, the vice president votes in the affirmative and the nomination⁵ is confirmed.

AZUZ: Why was the Senate divided?

When he nominated DeVos, President Trump called her a brilliant education advocate, who's leadership would help the government reform the education system and give better education and school choice to families. DeVos favors charter schools and voucher⁶ programs, and some teachers unions say those plans take money away from public schools that need it and DeVos' critics say she's pushed for education programs that don't work.

With Vice President Pence's tie-breaking vote, Betsy DeVos becomes the 11th U.S. education secretary responsible for advising the president on America's education policies, activities and programs.

1 nominee   

n.被提名者；被任命者；被推荐者

参考例句：

• His nominee for vice president was elected only after a second ballot.他提名的副总统在两轮投票后才当选。
• Mr.Francisco is standing as the official nominee for the post of District Secretary.弗朗西斯科先生是行政书记职位的正式提名人。

2 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

3 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

4 nays   

n.反对票，投反对票者( nay的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The tally was two ayes and three nays. 投票结果是两票赞成，三票反对。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The tally was three yeas and two nays, so the yeas have it. 投票结果是三票赞成两票反对，投赞成票者胜利。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

5 nomination   

n.提名，任命，提名权

参考例句：

• John is favourite to get the nomination for club president.约翰最有希望被提名为俱乐部主席。
• Few people pronounced for his nomination.很少人表示赞成他的提名。

6 voucher   

n.收据；传票；凭单，凭证

参考例句：

• The government should run a voucher system.政府应该施行凭证制度。
• Whenever cash is paid out,a voucher or receipt should be obtained.无论何时只要支付现金，就必须要有一张凭据或者收据。