VOA双语新闻:1、美整修政府医保网站 本周再成焦点(在线收听

 

美整修政府医保网站 本周再成焦点

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.

这个星期,有缺陷的美国政府医保网站将再次成为人们关注的焦点。美国人应该登录这个网站申请私人医疗保险。在美国政府承诺重大改进的11月30日截止日期之后,所谓的“ 奥巴马医保”网站显然好用多了,但还远远不够完美。

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

政府医疗健保网站启动两个月后,这个问题丛生的网站仍然是一项进行中的工作,尽管奥巴马总统一周前作出过保证。

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

奥巴马说:“到这个月底,我们预计这个网站将会以它应有的方式工作。”

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

支付得起的医保法在备受困扰的情况下推出,对于被视为擅长科技的政府来说,是一大难堪。

“There is no question the rollout on the Affordable Care Act was much tougher than we expected," Obama said. "But I want everybody here to understand: I amgoing to see this through.”

奥巴马总统说:“毫无疑问,支付得起的医保法的推出比我们预想的要艰难得多。但我希望在这里的每个人都明白:我将自始至终盯着解决这个事情”

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

奥巴马总统的支持率最近几个星期有所下降,而从一开始就反对奥巴马医保的国会共和党人振奋起来。

“I do not believe you can fix this law to lower the cost and increase access [to health care]," said Representative Kevin McCarthy. "We have to scrap it and start anew.”

共和党众议员凯文·麦卡锡众议员说:“我不相信你能整修好这个法律,来降低成本,增加人们获得健保的途径。我们必须放弃它,重新开始。”

“I do not think Obamacare has failed,” said Democratic lawmakers like Steny Hoyer, who continue to defend the law. “Access to Obamacare has been a failure at this point in time. And it needs to be fixed. So from that standpoint, the substance of Obamacare has yet to be tested. And to the extent it has been tested, it has been a success for millions of people.”

可是民主党众议员斯滕尼.霍耶说: “我不认为奥巴马医保法失败了。” 跟霍耶一样的民主党议员们继续为这个法律辩护。民主党众议员斯滕尼.霍耶说:“获得奥巴马医保的途径在这个时间点上是失败的。它需要整修。所以从这个角度来看, 奥巴马医保法的实质内容还有待检验。在已经测试过的范围内,这个法律对数以百万计的人来说是成功的。

The House of Representatives gets back to work this week after a Thanksgiving break, the Senate next week. Lawmakers have until the middle of the month to agree on a federal budget. Spending authority expires in January, and the United States risks another partial government shutdown unless it is extended.

感恩节假期结束后,美国众议院本周恢复工作,参议院下周上班。国会议员本月中旬之前须要同意一项联邦预算。支出授权期限将在一月截止,如果支出授权期限不延长,美国将再次面临政府部分关闭的风险。

  原文地址:http://www.tingroom.com/lesson/voabn/2013/12/241140.html