Bush Presses Congress on Tax Cuts

Broadcast: Jan 11 2003

 

President Bush used his weekly radio address to press for Congressional action on $670 billion worth of proposed tax cuts. Democrats¹ have a rival plan they say gives more help to state governments.

President Bush says his new economic plan will help create more jobs and ¹⁾speed-up the nation's economic recovery. He wants to accelerate tax cuts already approved by Congress to stimulate² consumer spending. "For all income taxpayers³, I propose speeding up the tax cuts already approved by Congress, because Americans need that relief today," he said.

If Congress approves his plan, President Bush says, 92 million Americans will pay about $1,000 less in taxes.

He also wants to ²⁾eliminate taxes paid on corporate⁴ dividends⁵, a measure that has drawn⁶ criticism from Congressional Democrats, who say that unfairly favors the wealthy.

In the Democratic response to the president's radio address, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson said a $50 billion alternative plan will provide ³⁾temporary tax relief, federal assistance for states and more help for unemployed⁷ workers.

President Bush says Democrats are engaging in what he calls "class warfare," by criticizing his plan as favoring wealthier Americans.

Mr. Bush says he is also moving to restore investor⁸ confidence in corporate integrity, which was shaken by a series of accounting⁹ scandals.

He is proposing a major increase in funding for the federal agencies responsible for prosecuting¹⁰ corporate crime. Mr. Bush says that will lead to hundreds of new accountants, lawyers, and examiners policing corporate conduct. "Our country has made great progress in restoring investor confidence, and putting the ⁴⁾recession behind us, We cannot be satisfied, however, until every corporate wrongdoer is held to account, and every part of our economy is strong, and every person who wants to work can find a job."

The president's plan is facing opposition¹¹ in Congress from some Republicans, as well, who feel it is too expensive, at a time when the country may soon have to pay for a war in Iraq.

Scott Stearns VOA news, White House.

1)    speed-up飞速，加快

2)    eliminate[i5limineit]vt. 排除, 消除

3)    temporary[5tempErEri]adj. 暂时的, 临时的, 临时性

4)    recession[ri5seFEn]n. 不景气，撤回, 退回, 退后

1 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 stimulate   

vt.刺激，使兴奋；激励，使…振奋

参考例句：

• Your encouragement will stimulate me to further efforts.你的鼓励会激发我进一步努力。
• Success will stimulate the people for fresh efforts.成功能鼓舞人们去作新的努力。

3 taxpayers   

纳税人，纳税的机构( taxpayer的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Finance for education comes from taxpayers. 教育经费来自纳税人。
• She was declaiming against the waste of the taxpayers' money. 她慷慨陈词猛烈抨击对纳税人金钱的浪费。

4 corporate   

adj.共同的，全体的；公司的，企业的

参考例句：

• This is our corporate responsibility.这是我们共同的责任。
• His corporate's life will be as short as a rabbit's tail.他的公司的寿命是兔子尾巴长不了。

5 dividends   

红利( dividend的名词复数 )； 股息； 被除数； （足球彩票的）彩金

参考例句：

• Nothing pays richer dividends than magnanimity. 没有什么比宽宏大量更能得到厚报。
• Their decision five years ago to computerise the company is now paying dividends. 五年前他们作出的使公司电脑化的决定现在正产生出效益。

6 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

7 unemployed   

adj.失业的，没有工作的；未动用的，闲置的

参考例句：

• There are now over four million unemployed workers in this country.这个国家现有四百万失业人员。
• The unemployed hunger for jobs.失业者渴望得到工作。

8 investor   

n.投资者，投资人

参考例句：

• My nephew is a cautious investor.我侄子是个小心谨慎的投资者。
• The investor believes that his investment will pay off handsomely soon.这个投资者相信他的投资不久会有相当大的收益。

9 accounting   

n.会计，会计学，借贷对照表

参考例句：

• A job fell vacant in the accounting department.财会部出现了一个空缺。
• There's an accounting error in this entry.这笔账目里有差错。

10 prosecuting   

检举、告发某人( prosecute的现在分词 )； 对某人提起公诉； 继续从事（某事物）； 担任控方律师

参考例句：

• The witness was cross-examined by the prosecuting counsel. 证人接受控方律师的盘问。
• Every point made by the prosecuting attorney was telling. 检查官提出的每一点都是有力的。

11 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。