奥巴马每周电视讲话:保护中产阶级，促进经济复

　　WEEKLY ADDRESS: President  Obama Strongly Urges Passage of the Framework Agreement on Middle Class Tax  Cuts
每周电视讲话：奥巴马总统强烈敦促国会通过关于对中产阶级减税的框架协议
WASHINGTON – In this week’s address,  President Obama strongly urged both houses of Congress to pass the framework  agreement on middle class tax cuts. This is a good deal for the American  people, and they are counting on Washington to get this done. A failure to do  so would not only result in tax hikes on middle class families and a loss of  unemployment insurance for those hardest hit by this recession, but it would  also risk weakening our economic recovery.
华盛顿：在本周的讲话中，奥巴马总统强烈敦促国会参众两院通过关于对中产阶级减税的框架协议。对于美国人民来说这是一件好事情，而且他们也一直期盼着华盛顿将此事落到实处。若该协议不能获得通过不仅会导致中产家庭的缴税上涨以及在本次经济衰退中遭受沉重打击的人们的失业保险的损失，而且还将使我们经济复苏进程冒险受损。
Right now, there’s a big debate taking  place in Washington that will affect how much you pay in taxes next  year.  If Congress doesn’t act, tax  rates will automatically go up for just about everyone in our country.  Typical middle class families would end up  paying an extra $3,000.
此时此刻，华盛顿正在进行一场大规模的辩论，它将影响明年你们会缴纳多少税额。如果国会不采取行动，我国每个人都将毫无疑问的面临税率上涨。普通中产家庭将最终要多缴税3,000美元。
That’s unacceptable to me.  Not when we know that it’s the middle class  that was hit the hardest by the recession.   And not when we know that taking this money out of the pockets of  working people is exactly the wrong thing to do to get our economy growing  faster.  Economists¹ tell us that this  tax hike on working families could actually cost us well over a million jobs.
我无法接受这样的结果。我们知道中产阶级在本次衰退中遭受的打击最为严重，从工薪阶层的口袋里掏这部分钱来加速经济增长是完全错误的事情，这不是加税的时候。经济学家们告诉我们针对工薪家庭的赋税增加将使我们损失超过100万个工作岗位。
That’s why I’ve been fighting so hard to  cut middle class taxes.  And that’s why  I brought both Democrats² and Republicans to the table – to put together a  compromise, and work through our differences, so we could get this done.
我一直以来努力为中产阶级减税，原因就在于此。而且我让民主党人和共和党人坐到谈判桌前，相互让步，消除分歧，并达成一致解决问题，原因也在于此。
Now, the Republicans in Congress strongly  favored permanent tax breaks for the wealthiest taxpayers³ and the wealthiest  estates, most of which would go to millionaires and even billionaires.  But I didn’t believe that these tax cuts  were worth the cost.  They’d add to our  deficits⁵ without really boosting the economy.
然而现在，国会的共和党人却更加热衷于为最富有的纳税人和最富有的不动产拥有人提供永久的税收优惠，而他们的大多数是百万富翁甚至是亿万富翁。而我认为这部分税收减免并不值得。这样会增加我们的财政赤字而不会为提振经济带来任何实质的推动力。
I believed that the best way to help the  economy, and working families, was to keep middle class tax rates low, and  cut taxes for working parents, college students, and small businesses.  And I believed that with millions of people  looking for jobs, it would be a terrible mistake to end unemployment  insurance – not only for people who are out of work, but for our entire  economy.
我认为帮助经济复苏和工薪家庭的最好途径就是保持对中产阶级的低税率，以及为工薪父母，大学生和中小企业减税。而且我认为在当下还有数百万人还在寻找工作的时候，如果终止失业保险将是一个极为严重的错误——不仅仅对失业的人们是这样，对我们整个经济也是如此。
So we hammered out a deal that reflects  ideas from both sides.  It wasn’t easy,  and it’s by no means perfect.  And as  with any compromise, everybody had to live with elements they didn’t  like.  But this is a good deal for the  American people.  The vast majority of  the tax cuts in this plan will help the middle class, including a new cut in  payroll⁶ taxes that will save the average family about $1,000.  And as this plan is debated in Congress,  what I want to make clear is the real difference it will make in people’s  lives.
因此我们敲定了一项反映两党共同意见的协议。这项协议来之不易，但并不完美。如同任何的折衷方案一样，每个人都需要接受一些他们并不喜欢的东西。但这对于美国人民来说却是一件好事。这项计划的绝大多数减税政策都对中产阶级有利，包括新的工薪税削减计划，将为每个家庭节约1,000美元。由于该项计划还在国会讨论，我想说明的是它将为人们的生活带来实实在在的影响。
It’s going to make a difference for a  single mom with two kids in Ohio working as a cashier.  With this plan, she’d get a new payroll tax  cut and a bigger child tax credit together worth more than $2,300.
它将影响到俄亥俄州当收银员并抚养两个孩子的单身妈妈。有了这项计划，她将获得新的工薪税减免以及更多的儿童税收抵免，总额将超过2,300美元。
It’s going to make a difference for a  couple in Florida earning about $50,000 and trying to put one of their two  kids through college.  They’d save more  than $4,000 because of the middle class tax cuts – including a $2,500 tax  credit to go toward college tuition.
它将影响到佛罗里达州收入在5万美元左右的夫妇，他们要为两个儿女之中的一个支付大学学费。有了中产阶级减税政策，他们将节省4,000美元——包括用于大学学费的2,500美元的税收抵免。
And it’s going to make an enormous  difference for people looking for jobs.   For many of these families, emergency unemployment insurance is the  last line of defense⁷ between hardship and catastrophe⁸.  And I’d point out, if these folks stop  spending money, it will also hurt businesses, which will hurt hiring, which  will damage our recovery.
他还将对寻找工作的人们产生极大的影响。对于这些家庭来讲，紧急失业保险是保障他们面临的困难不会变成灾难最后防线。而且我要说明的是，如果这些人停止支出，将不仅损害企业，还将损害就业，这将对我们的经济产生不利影响。
So this plan is going to help millions of  families to make ends meet, through tax cuts and unemployment insurance for  people who’ve lost their jobs by no fault of their own.  And we included tax relief for businesses,  too – making it easier for them to invest and expand.  All told, this will not only directly help  families and businesses.  By putting  more money in people’s pockets, and helping⁹ companies grow, we’re going to  see people being able to spend a little more, we’re going to spur hiring –  we’re going to strengthen our entire economy.
因此，利用减税和对非自身原因而失业的人们的失业保险，这项计划将帮助数百万家庭实现收支平衡。而且我们也加入了减轻企业税收负担的政策——让企业可以更好的投资和扩大规模。总之，这项计划不仅仅会直接帮助家庭和企业。通过让更多的钱流入人们的腰包，帮助公司增长，我们将会看到人们可以花的多一点，我们将能刺激就业——我们将能巩固我们整个经济。
Now, I recognize that many of my friends  in my own party are uncomfortable with some of what’s in this agreement, in  particular the temporary tax cuts for the wealthy.  And I share their concerns. I don't like those tax cuts either.  It’s clear that over the long run, if we’re  serious about balancing the budget, we cannot afford to continue these tax  breaks for the wealthiest taxpayers – especially when we know that cutting  the deficit⁴ is going to demand sacrifice from everyone.  That’s the reality.
现在，我注意到我的一些党内朋友对这项协议的部分内容感到很不舒服，尤其是对富人的临时减税政策。我与他们一样感到忧虑。而且我也不喜欢这样的减税政策。很明显，在长时间的拉锯战之后，如果我们严肃对待平衡预算的问题，我们就不能承受继续为这些最富有的纳税人提供税收优惠的政策——尤其是当我们知道削减赤字需要每个人都做出牺牲的时候。现实就是如此。
But at the same time, we cannot allow the  middle class in this country to be caught in the political crossfire¹⁰ of  Washington.  People want us to find  solutions, not score points. And I will not allow middle class families to be  treated like pawns¹¹ on a chessboard.
但同时，我们也不能让全国的中产阶级成为华盛顿政治交火的牺牲品。人民需要我们找到办法而不是漂亮的政治说辞。而我也不允许将中产阶级家庭当成棋盘上的走卒来对待。
The opportunity for families to send  their kids to college hinges on this debate.   The ability of parents to put food on the table while looking for a  job depends on this debate.  And our  recovery will be strengthened or weakened based on the choice that now rests  with Congress.
一个家庭能否有机会将他们的孩子送进大学取决于这场辩论。父母能否在找工作的时候还有能力将食物摆到餐桌上也取决于这场辩论。而我们的复苏到底是会得到巩固还是破坏也将取决于现在国会的抉择。
So I strongly urge members of both  parties to pass this plan.  And I’m  confident that they will do the right thing, strengthening the middle class  and our economic recovery.
因此，我强烈敦促两党的议员通过这项计划。而且我也满怀信心，他们将做出正确的选择，巩固中产阶级地位并巩固我们经济复苏的进程。
Thank you.
谢谢大家。

1 economists   

n.经济学家，经济专家( economist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The sudden rise in share prices has confounded economists. 股价的突然上涨使经济学家大惑不解。
• Foreign bankers and economists cautiously welcomed the minister's initiative. 外国银行家和经济学家对部长的倡议反应谨慎。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 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》

3 taxpayers   

纳税人，纳税的机构( taxpayer的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Finance for education comes from taxpayers. 教育经费来自纳税人。
• She was declaiming against the waste of the taxpayers' money. 她慷慨陈词猛烈抨击对纳税人金钱的浪费。

4 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。

5 deficits   

n.不足额( deficit的名词复数 )；赤字；亏空；亏损

参考例句：

• The Ministry of Finance consistently overestimated its budget deficits. 财政部一贯高估预算赤字。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Many of the world's farmers are also incurring economic deficits. 世界上许多农民还在遭受经济上的亏损。 来自辞典例句

6 payroll   

n.工资表，在职人员名单，工薪总额

参考例句：

• His yearly payroll is $1.2 million.他的年薪是120万美元。
• I can't wait to get my payroll check.我真等不及拿到我的工资单了。

7 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

8 catastrophe   

n.大灾难，大祸

参考例句：

• I owe it to you that I survived the catastrophe.亏得你我才大难不死。
• This is a catastrophe beyond human control.这是一场人类无法控制的灾难。

9 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

10 crossfire   

n.被卷进争端

参考例句：

• They say they are caught in the crossfire between the education establishment and the government.他们称自己被卷进了教育机构与政府之间的争端。
• When two industrial giants clash,small companies can get caught in the crossfire.两大工业企业争斗之下，小公司遭受池鱼之殃。

11 pawns   

n.（国际象棋中的）兵( pawn的名词复数 )；卒；被人利用的人；小卒v.典当，抵押( pawn的第三人称单数 )；以（某事物）担保

参考例句：

• The hostages are being used as political pawns. 人质正被用作政治卒子。
• The allies would fear that they were pawns in a superpower condominium. 这个联盟担心他们会成为超级大国共管的牺牲品。 来自《简明英汉词典》