U.S. President Barack Obama says the country's economic crisis demands that Congress act soon on his economic stimulus plan. Mr. Obama met Friday with top Democratic and Republican lawmakers at the White House.
美国总统奥巴马说，鉴于国家目前面临的经济危机，国会需要就他提出的经济刺激计划迅速采取行动。奥巴马总统星期五跟国会中重要的民主共和两党议员举行了会晤。
As the meeting began, President Obama acknowledged that some Republicans on Capitol Hill dislike parts of his economic stimulus proposal, estimated at $825 billion.
会议一开始，奥巴马总统就承认，国会中的一些共和党议员不赞成他的经济刺激计划中的某些部分。奥巴马总统提出的这个经济刺激计划金额高达8250亿美元。
"I know that it is a heavy lift to do something as substantial as we're doing right now," he said. "I recognize that there are still some differences around the table and between the administration and members of Congress about particular details on the plan."
他说：“我知道，要做成像我们现在正在做的这种具有实质性的事情，那是非常艰难的。我承认，对于摆在桌面上的一些问题，大家仍然存在一些分歧，行政部门和国会的一些议员对于这个计划的某些特定细节存在不同意见。”
But the president said the severity of the nation's economic problem requires quick action.
但是奥巴马总统指出，国家的经济问题如此严峻，必须迅速采取行动。
"What I think unifies this group is a recognition that we are experiencing a unprecedented, perhaps, economic crisis that has to be dealt with, and dealt with rapidly," he said.
“我认为，足以使我们这些人团结一致的一点是：认识到我们正在经历一次史无前例的经济危机，这场经济危机必须得到处理，而且要迅速处理。”
Mr. Obama has said he wants Congress to pass an economic stimulus plan by mid-February. He and the lawmakers at the meeting all indicated that they believe that goal will be met.
奥巴马总统表示，他要求国会在2月中旬通过他的经济刺激计划。他和与会的议员们都暗示，他们相信这个目标是能够实现的。
Afterward, the top Republican in the House of Representatives, Minority Leader John Boehner, said the meeting went well, and that Mr. Obama had listened to the Republicans' concerns, especially about the version of the bill being debated in the House.
会议结束之后，众议院少数党共和党领袖约翰.博纳说，会议进行得很顺利，奥巴马总统认真听取了共和党人的意见，尤其是关于众议院正在辩论的有关法案。
"It does not spend out very quickly. It is almost too late," he said. "And we have concerns about the size of the package."
博纳说：“不能通过花钱以求立即走出困境。现在几乎已经太晚了。而且我们对这个计划的规模感到担忧。”
The Senate is considering economic stimulus proposals totaling $755 billion. The Senate plan would include tax cuts for individuals and businesses, bonus payments for most retirees, tax credits to help pay for college, and tax breaks to promote renewable energy.
参议院正在考虑一个总值7550亿美元的经济刺激计划。参议院的计划内容包括给个人和企业减税，给大多数退休人员额外发放补助，对于大学学费提供税额减免，对于可再生能源降低税率。
The Senate's top Democrat, Majority Leader Harry Reid, said everyone at the meeting understood the urgency of the situation.
参议院多数党民主党领袖哈里.里德说，出席会议的每个人都明白目前形势的紧迫性。
"There was not a single member of Congress, or anyone in that room, that did not agree that we have an economic problem in the country, lots of economic difficulties," he said. "But at the conclusion of the meeting, there was not a single person who felt we could not work our way out of the problems we had."
他说：“不论是在国会中还是在今天的会议室里，没有一个人不同意，我们国家面临着一个经济问题，面临很多的经济困难。但是在这次会议结束时，没有一个人感到我们不能摆脱目前的问题。”
Mr. Obama also said Friday that any legislation governing the use of an additional $350 billion in financial industry bailout money must include new measures to ensure accountability and transparency.
奥巴马总统星期五还说，任何有关如何使用金融业纾困资金中另外3500亿美元的法案都必须包涵确保责任性和透明性的新措施。 |