VOA常速英语2013--本周聚焦华盛顿 立法者再次重返预算之争（在线收听）

Washington Week: Lawmakers Return to Budget Battle 本周聚焦华盛顿 立法者再次重返预算之争

A select group of Democratic and Republican lawmakers meets this week in search of a bipartisan blueprint for America’s fiscal future. VOA’s Michael Bowman reports, the conference brings together top lawmakers from the House and Senate budget committees that, for years, have been deadlocked on federal spending and taxation.

The conference is tasked with bridging major budget differences between the Republican-led House of Representatives and the Democratic-controlled Senate.

此次会议的目的使共和党人领导的众议院和民主党控制的参议院之间的主要预算差异达成一致。

It also has a larger purpose, according to Senate Budget Committee Chairwoman Patty Murray.

而据美国参议院预算委员会主席帕蒂·默里所称，它也有一个更大的目标。

“Showing the American people that, as a Congress, we can work and make sure that our economy is growing and that people are back to work,” said Murray.

“展现给美国人民,作为国会,我们可以协作,确保我们的经济增长,人们重返工作岗位,” 默里说道。

That sentiment was echoed by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, a Republican.

这一观点得到众议院预算委员会主席共和党人保罗·瑞安的支持。

“Our goal is to do good for the American people, to get this debt under control, to do smart deficit reduction and to do things that we think can grow the economy and get people back to work,” said Ryan.

“我们的目标是使美国人民受益,控制债务,聪明的削减赤字及做我们认为可以发展经济,让人们重新回到工作岗位上的事情。”瑞安说道。

The conference was mandated by legislation earlier this month that ended a two-week federal shutdown and averted a U.S. debt default.

本月早些时候立法规定的这一会议结束为期两周的联邦关闭及避免美国债务违约。

The bipartisan group has until mid-December to hammer out a budget deal.

两党集团将在12月中旬前制定一个预算协议。

Democrats, including President Barack Obama, want more revenue for domestic priorities.

包括奥巴马总统在内的民主党人希望优先给国内带来更多的收入。

“What is going to help us grow, what is going to create jobs, what is going to expand our middle class, what is going to give more opportunity to young people-those are the things we should be putting money into,” said Obama.

“帮助我们增长,创造就业机会,扩大我们的中产阶级,给年轻人更多的机会—这些都是我们应该花钱的地方,”奥巴马说道。

By contrast, Republicans want further budget austerity.

相比之下,共和党人则希望进一步紧缩预算。

Among the leading voices is House Speaker John Boehner.

其中最为有力的声音来自众议院议长约翰·博纳。

“The looming problems that are affecting our country are still there. We are spending more than what we bring in,” said Boehner.

“严重影响我们国家迫在眉睫的问题依然存在。我们花的比我们投入的还多,” 博纳说道。

Failure to reach a budget accord by mid-December would risk another government shutdown in January, when federal spending authority expires once again.

如果12月中旬未能达成预算协议，当联邦开支授权再一次到期，今年1月可能会有另一次政府关闭。

Lawmakers of both parties say they have no desire to see federal operations halted a second time, but it remains to be seen whether that will generate a bipartisan deal that can pass both houses of a politically divided Congress.

两党议员们表示他们不希望看到联邦再次暂停运作,但政治分裂的国会是否通过两党协议协议还是未知数。

On global matters, President Obama welcomes Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to the White House Friday.

在全球问题上,奥巴马总统将于星期五在白宫欢迎伊拉克总理努里·马利基。