VOA常速英语2013--本周聚焦华盛顿继续关注奥巴马医改网站（在线收听）

Washington Week: Focus Will Continue on Health Care Website 本周聚焦华盛顿继续关注奥巴马医改网站

WASHINGTON — This week will bring a renewed focus on the flawed U.S. government website where Americans are supposed to sign up for private health care insurance. The  so-called “Obamacare” website is apparently functioning better, but far from perfectly, after the November 30 deadline for major improvements promised by the  administration.

Two months after healthcare.gov's unveiling, the problem-plagued website remains a work in progress despite President Barack Obama's assurances weeks ago.

医疗保健政府网站自从开始运作已经过去了两个月,尽管美国总统巴拉克·奥巴马几个星期前就已经做出保证，但这一问题缠身的网站仍然在开展工作当中。

“By the end of this month we anticipate that it is going to be working the way it is supposed to,” he said.

“这个月底我们预期网站运营将会走上正轨,”他说道。

The Affordable Care Act's troubled rollout has been a major embarrassment for an administration that had been regarded as technologically-savvy.

可支付医疗法案陷入困境一直是被视为技术娴熟政府的最大尴尬。

“There is no question the rollout on the Affordable Care Act was much tougher than we expected," Obama said.

“毫无疑问可支付医疗法案的推出比我们预期的更为严苛,”奥巴马说道。

"But I want everybody here to understand: I am going to see this through.”

“但是我希望每个人都能够理解:我会亲眼见证它读过难关。”

Obama's approval ratings have sunk in recent weeks, and congressional Republicans, who opposed Obamacare from the start, have been energized.

总统的支持率已经在最近几周陷入低迷,反观国会一开始就反对奥巴马医改的共和党人们则精力十分充沛。

“I do not believe you can fix this law to lower the cost and increase access," said Representative Kevin McCarthy.

“我不相信你能解决降低成本和增加访问量的这项法律,”众议员凯文·麦卡锡说道。

"We have to scrap it and start anew.”

“我们必须放弃它然后重新开始。”

“I do not think Obamacare has failed,” said Democratic lawmakers like Steny Hoyer, who continue to defend the law.

“我认为奥巴马医改并没有失败,”继续捍卫这一法律的众议院民主党议员斯蒂尼·霍耶说道。

“Access to Obamacare has been a failure at this point in time.

“在这个时间点上谈论奥巴马医改一直是失败。

And it needs to be fixed.

而且因为它需要被修复。

So from that standpoint, the substance of Obamacare has yet to be tested.

所以从这个角度来看,奥巴马医改的实质还有待考验。

And to the extent it has been tested, it has been a success for millions of people.”

而在某种程度上它已经过测试,数以百万计的人从它身上获益。”

The House of Representatives gets back to work this week after a Thanksgiving break, the Senate next week.

感恩节假期后众议院将于本周回到工作岗位上,而参议院则在下周。

Lawmakers have until the middle of the month to agree on a federal budget.

直到这月中旬议员才能达成联邦预算一致。

Spending authority expires in January, and the United States risks another partial government shutdown unless it is extended.

而财务开支授权即将在1月份到期, 除非扩展，否则美国将面临另一个部分政府关闭的风险。