NPR 2010-03-03

From NPR News in Washington, I’m Renita Jablonsky.

 

President Obama is revising his health overhaul¹ plan to add some Republican proposals. But as NPR’s Julie Rovner reports, they’re not likely to win many new votes.

 

Mr. Obama said the changes were prompted by the day-long discussions last Thursday at Blair House. Among the GOP proposals he wants to adopt are ones to ensure that doctors will be paid more to serve patients in the Medicaid program for the poor, and that funding to help states exploring new ways to resolve medical malpractice disputes will be guaranteed. Other proposals would expand fraud fighting efforts and help make health savings² account available in the new insurance marketplaces the bill would create. But the president in his letter to congressional leaders made it clear he does not want to start over, nor does he intend to pursue what he called “piecemeal reform”. That will probably ensure they’re going forward. The bill will continue to lack any Republican support. Julie Rovner, NPR News, Washington.

 

Meanwhile, President Obama announced details of a proposed energy rebate³ program during a visit to Georgia. He says it would reward people who buy energy-saving equipment with a rebate of 1,000 dollars or more. The president told the audience at Savannah Technical College, he hopes the programs boost demand for things like insulation⁴ and water heaters and jobs for Americans. “When it comes to domestic policy, I have no more important job as president than seeing to it that every American who wants to work and is able to work can find a job.” The so-called “Home Start” Rebate program needs the approval of Congress.

 

US aid to earthquake-damaged Chile is being worked out today after a visit by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Clinton arrived in the capital of Santiago with satellite phones and a technician. She says it’s a first part of what will be substantial US relief assistance.

 

The head of the US Postal⁵ Service says post offices will need to close and Saturday deliveries eliminated, if the service is to avoid drowning in red ink. NPR’s Brian Naylor has more.

 

Studies commissioned by the Postal Service forecast 238 billion dollars in losses over the next ten years, unless the service changes the way it does business. More consumers turning to online bill paying and emails combined with the recession has meant sharply reduced mail volume. Postmaster General John Potter says the way out will involve a combination of factors. “We’re talking about wholesale⁶ closing of every post office in America. I’m talking about giving management the choice to make decisions that are in the best interest of consumers.” It will be up to Congress to approve the changes and closing post offices is expected to be a tough sell to many lawmakers, especially those representing rural areas. Brian Naylor, NPR News, Washington.

 

On Wall Street, the Dow Jones Industrial Average is up 40 points at 10,443; the NASDAQ is up 17 points.

 

This is NPR.

 

Toyota executives are again in front of lawmakers on Capitol Hill. The company’s North American president says an overhaul of the automaker will give North American officials more authority to make decisions about recalls. In prepared testimony⁷ for the US Senate Committee hearing, he says Toyota will better share quality and safety information across its operations and with regulators. Toyota’s recalled more than eight million vehicles, most in the US for unintended acceleration⁸ and braking problems. 

 

On a visit to Paris, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev urged French investors¹⁰ to help modernize¹¹ the Russian economy. Eleanor Beardsley reports from Paris.

 

On the second day of a state visit, Medvedev hailed an unprecedented¹² Franco-Russian economic partnership¹³ that includes new energy, transport and military deals. French investment in Russia topped ten billion dollars and trade between the two countries increased five-fold in as many years. France is now Russia’s sixth biggest investor⁹ but still lags far behind Russia’s No.1 business partner, Germany, but France is wasting no time trying to catch up. French energy giant GDF Suez sighed a deal with Gazprom, the world’s biggest gas firm to take part in a new pipeline¹⁴ pumping gas from Russia to Western Europe. And President Nicolas Sarkozy confirmed that France is in negotiations¹⁵ to sell Russia four advanced warships¹⁶. For NPR News, I’m Eleanor Beardsley in Paris.

 

Kentucky Senator Jim Bunning is again blocking the Senate from extending unemployment benefits. The Republican objected to a request today by fellow Republican Susan Collins of Maine to pass 30-day extension of benefits. It would also extend highway programs and other expired measures.

 

I’m Renita Jablonsky, NPR News from Washington.
 

1 overhaul   

v./n.大修，仔细检查

参考例句：

• Master Worker Wang is responsible for the overhaul of this grinder.王师傅主修这台磨床。
• It is generally appreciated that the rail network needs a complete overhaul.众所周知，铁路系统需要大检修。

2 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。

3 rebate   

v./n.折扣，回扣，退款；vt.给...回扣，给...打折扣

参考例句：

• You can claim a rebate on your tax.你可以要求退回部分税款。
• Customers are to benefit from a rebate on their electricity bills.顾客将从他们的电费退费中得到实惠。

4 insulation   

n.隔离；绝缘；隔热

参考例句：

• Please examine the insulation of the electric wires in my house.请检查一下我屋子里电线的绝缘情况。
• It is always difficult to assure good insulation between the electric leads.要保证两个电触头之间有良好的绝缘总是很困难的。

5 postal   

adj.邮政的，邮局的

参考例句：

• A postal network now covers the whole country.邮路遍及全国。
• Remember to use postal code.勿忘使用邮政编码。

6 wholesale   

n.批发；adv.以批发方式；vt.批发，成批出售

参考例句：

• The retail dealer buys at wholesale and sells at retail.零售商批发购进货物，以零售价卖出。
• Such shoes usually wholesale for much less.这种鞋批发出售通常要便宜得多。

7 testimony   

n.证词；见证，证明

参考例句：

• The testimony given by him is dubious.他所作的证据是可疑的。
• He was called in to bear testimony to what the police officer said.他被传入为警官所说的话作证。

8 acceleration   

n.加速，加速度

参考例句：

• All spacemen must be able to bear acceleration.所有太空人都应能承受加速度。
• He has also called for an acceleration of political reforms.他同时呼吁加快政治改革的步伐。

9 investor   

n.投资者，投资人

参考例句：

• My nephew is a cautious investor.我侄子是个小心谨慎的投资者。
• The investor believes that his investment will pay off handsomely soon.这个投资者相信他的投资不久会有相当大的收益。

10 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会

11 modernize   

vt.使现代化，使适应现代的需要

参考例句：

• It was their manifest failure to modernize the country's industries.他们使国家进行工业现代化，明显失败了。
• There is a pressing need to modernise our electoral system.我们的选举制度迫切需要现代化。

12 unprecedented   

adj.无前例的，新奇的

参考例句：

• The air crash caused an unprecedented number of deaths.这次空难的死亡人数是空前的。
• A flood of this sort is really unprecedented.这样大的洪水真是十年九不遇。

13 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。

14 pipeline   

n.管道，管线

参考例句：

• The pipeline supplies Jordan with 15 per cent of its crude oil.该管道供给约旦15%的原油。
• A single pipeline serves all the houses with water.一条单管路给所有的房子供水。

15 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。

16 warships   

军舰，战舰( warship的名词复数 )； 舰只

参考例句：

• The enemy warships were disengaged from the battle after suffering heavy casualties. 在遭受惨重伤亡后，敌舰退出了海战。
• The government fitted out warships and sailors for them. 政府给他们配备了战舰和水手。