VOA慢速英语2016 休会过后参议员再度展开大法官任命之争（在线收听）

休会过后参议员再度展开大法官任命之争

Congress was idle last week, but three senators flew to Washington to meet with President Barack Obama's Supreme Court nominee.

国会在上周处于休会期，但仍有3名参议员前往华盛顿会面巴拉克·奥巴马总统提名的最高法院候选人。

Most notable was Mark Kirk, the first Republican to sit down with federal appellate judge Merrick Garland.

其中最为知名的是马克·柯克，他是与联邦上诉法院法官梅里克·加兰德会面的首位共和党人。

“As the president put forward Judge Garland, we should give him advice and consent. We need full rational, adult, open-minded consideration of the constitutional process.”

“随着奥巴马总统提名加兰德审法官，我们应该给他建议和支持。我们需要全面理智、成熟、开放地考量宪法程序。”

While more than a dozen other Republicans say they are willing to meet with Garland, only two are urging Senate consideration of the nomination. A third, Jerry Moran, called for hearings, then reversed himself two days later.

虽然其他十几位共和党人表示愿与加兰德会面，但是仅有两人敦促参议院考虑对加兰的提名。而第3位要求举行听证会的共和党议员杰里·莫兰却在2天后改变了主意。

Democrats, meanwhile, stand united behind Garland.

同时，民主党人一致对加兰德表示支持。

“I think he is someone who is highly qualified and...I think it is the obligation of the Senate to not only have a hearing, but to vote on his nomination.”

“我想总统提名的加兰德完全有能力胜任该职位，参议院不仅有义务召开听证会，还要投票表决他的提名。”

“We're confirming, or deciding whether to confirm a member if the Supreme Court should not be political.”

“如果最高法院不按政治进程，我们会进行确认,或决定是否确认这位提名人。”

But Republicans control the Senate. Unless they budge, Garland will remain in limbo.

但控制参议院的是共和党。如果共和党人不让步，加兰德任职大法官一事就仍然悬而未决。

“Let's let the American people decide. The Senate will appropriately revisit the matter when it considers the qualifications of the nominee the next president nominates, whoever that might be.”

“让美国人民决定吧。无论谁当选下一任总统，参议院都会重新审查新总统提名的大法官。”

The high court's make-up and ideological center of gravity are issues in the presidential contest.

总统竞选的结果将决定最高法院的组成及意识形态的重心。

“If Hillary is the next president, the Supreme Court is lost for a generation, and the Bill of Rights is lost.”

“如果希拉里当选下一任总统，会对最高法院和《权利法案》造成长期损失。”

Opinion polls show majority backing for full Senate consideration of Garland.

民调显示大多数人支持参议院充分考量加兰德的提名。

Democrats believe Republicans will bow to the public's will or suffer at the ballot box in November. Whatever the political calculations, the vast majority of Republican senators are holding firm.

民主党人相信共和党人会顺应民意，要么就会在11月的大选中自吞苦果。无论政治观点如何，绝大多数共和党人仍有坚定的立场。