NPR 2011-07-22

There are reports that momentum¹ toward a deficit²-cutting deal is building in Washington, but the White House says there's nothing imminent³. NPR's Scott Horsley is tracking the negotiations⁴. Scott, What's the status on debt talks?

Lakshmi, so far there's been more talk than action, but lots of negotiations are going on both face-to-face and by telephone between the Capitol and the White House. Last night, President Obama met with House Republican leaders, and there are reports today suggesting the resurrection of that Grand Bargain between the president and House Speaker John Boehner. This would be a multi-trillion-dollar deficit-reduction plan, including both spending cuts and some provision for higher tax revenues. But as you say, White House spokesmen are cautioning there're still more hoops⁵ to jump through.

Credit ratings agencies are threatening to downgrade the US if Congress fails to raise the debt limit?

That's right, and the president has been doing a series of interviews to urge Congress to take action, including an interview on NPR's Tell Me More program that will air tomorrow. Even as he pushes for a big step to address the long-term deficit, Mr. Obama has to keep his eye on the urgent need to raise the debt ceiling before that August 2nd deadline.

"Ronald Reagan, I think, when he was president, repeatedly talked about how irresponsible it would be to allow the full faith and credit of the United States to be impaired⁶ in any kind of way."

Now, Scott, we're also seeing the GOP-led House has taken a weekend off, which has drawn⁷ some criticism from the Senate.

That's right. But whatever's happening in plain view, I think there will still be a lot of talking going on behind the scenes.

OK, Scott, thank you. That's NPR, Scott Horsley. Now, we were talking just a moment ago about the credit rating situation as Steve Beckner of Market News International tells us that a top rating agency is warning now that it may have to downgrade US debt.

Whether or when Congress raises the 14.3-trillion-dollar federal debt ceiling to allow the Treasury⁸ to keep borrowing is not Standard & Poor's only concern. The bigger issue is what conditions are attached to a higher debt limit. In April, the ratings agency lowered its outlook for US debt from stable to negative. Now, it is warning that any deal to raise the debt ceiling must be accompanied by a credible⁹ long-term plan to curb¹⁰ deficit spending and slow growth of the debt. It sees a 50-50 chance US government's rating will be lowered from AAA to AA within three months. For NPR News, I'm Steve Beckner.

Unemployment claims topped 400,000 yet another week, underscoring unrelenting challenges in the jobs market. The Labor¹¹ Department reports today new applications for unemployment insurance climbed by 10,000 last week to a seasonally¹² adjusted 418,000.

Before the close on Wall Street, the Dow was up 1.2% or 151 points at 12,723.

This is NPR News.

The automaker Chrysler is now free of government control. The US Treasury Department announced today it received the proceeds from the sale of its stake in Chrysler. NPR's Sonari Glinton reports the Canadian government has also sold off its stake in the automaker.

The Italian automaker, Fiat¹³, handed over 560 million dollars to the US Treasury and about 140 million to Canada for their stakes in Chrysler. The money is the final repayment¹⁴ of Canadian and US government loans. Those loans were given to Chrysler two years ago. It was part of a bailout to help the Detroit company survive the US current miseries—worst downturn ever. This is the second time Chrysler has had to be bailed¹⁵ out by the government, and it's its second go-round with foreign ownership. Sonari Glinton, NPR News.

A coalition¹⁶ of Alabama civil rights groups is requesting a federal court block a new immigration law due to take effect in September. In a motion filed today in Huntsville, the coalition says the law's unconstitutional. It allows police making traffic stops to detain people suspected of being in the US illegally. The law also requires schools to report their students' immigration status. However, supporters say that tougher measures are needed to crack down on illegal immigration in the US.

Soldiers are being deployed¹⁷ to several cities in the southern African nation of Malawi on a second day of anti-government protests. At least 10 people have died in the unrest.

Britain's Prince Andrew reportedly stepping down as the United Kingdom's trade envoy¹⁸ after coming under fire for a series of controversial connections with leaders overseas. Among them, ties to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, the target of a massive uprising in a country now entrenched¹⁹ in civil war.

1 momentum   

n.动力，冲力，势头；动量

参考例句：

• We exploit the energy and momentum conservation laws in this way.我们就是这样利用能量和动量守恒定律的。
• The law of momentum conservation could supplant Newton's third law.动量守恒定律可以取代牛顿第三定律。

2 deficit   

n.亏空，亏损；赤字，逆差

参考例句：

• The directors have reported a deficit of 2.5 million dollars.董事们报告赤字为250万美元。
• We have a great deficit this year.我们今年有很大亏损。

3 imminent   

adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的

参考例句：

• The black clounds show that a storm is imminent.乌云预示暴风雨即将来临。
• The country is in imminent danger.国难当头。

4 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。

5 hoops   

n.箍( hoop的名词复数 )；（篮球）篮圈；（旧时儿童玩的）大环子；（两端埋在地里的）小铁弓

参考例句：

• a barrel bound with iron hoops 用铁箍箍紧的桶
• Hoops in Paris were wider this season and skirts were shorter. 在巴黎，这个季节的裙圈比较宽大，裙裾却短一些。 来自飘（部分）

6 impaired   

adj.受损的；出毛病的；有（身体或智力）缺陷的v.损害，削弱( impair的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Much reading has impaired his vision. 大量读书损害了他的视力。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• His hearing is somewhat impaired. 他的听觉已受到一定程度的损害。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

7 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

8 treasury   

n.宝库；国库，金库；文库

参考例句：

• The Treasury was opposed in principle to the proposals.财政部原则上反对这些提案。
• This book is a treasury of useful information.这本书是有价值的信息宝库。

9 credible   

adj.可信任的，可靠的

参考例句：

• The news report is hardly credible.这则新闻报道令人难以置信。
• Is there a credible alternative to the nuclear deterrent?是否有可以取代核威慑力量的可靠办法？

10 curb   

n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制

参考例句：

• I could not curb my anger.我按捺不住我的愤怒。
• You must curb your daughter when you are in church.你在教堂时必须管住你的女儿。

11 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。

12 seasonally   

参考例句：

• The price of vegetables fluctuates seasonally. 蔬菜的价格随季节变动。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They moved seasonally among various vegetation types to feed on plants that were flourishing. 它们还随着季节的变化而在各种类型植物之间迁移，以便吃那些茂盛的植物。 来自辞典例句

13 fiat   

n.命令，法令，批准；vt.批准，颁布

参考例句：

• The opening of a market stall is governed by municipal fiat.开设市场摊位受市政法令管制。
• He has tried to impose solutions to the country's problems by fiat.他试图下令强行解决该国的问题。

14 repayment   

n.偿还，偿还款；报酬

参考例句：

• I am entitled to a repayment for the damaged goods.我有权利索取货物损坏赔偿金。
• The tax authorities have been harrying her for repayment.税务局一直在催她补交税款。

15 bailed   

保释，帮助脱离困境( bail的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Fortunately the pilot bailed out before the plane crashed. 飞机坠毁之前，驾驶员幸运地跳伞了。
• Some water had been shipped and the cook bailed it out. 船里进了些水，厨师把水舀了出去。

16 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

17 deployed   

（尤指军事行动）使展开( deploy的过去式和过去分词 )； 施展； 部署； 有效地利用

参考例句：

• Tanks have been deployed all along the front line. 沿整个前线已部署了坦克。
• The artillery was deployed to bear on the fort. 火炮是对着那个碉堡部署的。

18 envoy   

n.使节，使者，代表，公使

参考例句：

• Their envoy showed no sign of responding to our proposals.他们的代表对我方的提议毫无回应的迹象。
• The government has not yet appointed an envoy to the area.政府尚未向这一地区派过外交官。

19 entrenched   

adj.确立的，不容易改的(风俗习惯)

参考例句：

• Television seems to be firmly entrenched as the number one medium for national advertising.电视看来要在全国广告媒介中牢固地占据头等位置。
• If the enemy dares to attack us in these entrenched positions,we will make short work of them.如果敌人胆敢进攻我们固守的阵地，我们就消灭他们。