VOA标准英语2008年-US Lawmakers Express Anger, Skepticism on Finan

As key U.S. financial officials testified before a Senate committee on Tuesday, Bush administration officials were on Capitol Hill trying to allay¹ concerns and press for action on the $700 billion financial bailout plan. As we hear from VOA's Dan Robinson, majority Democrats² report progress in negotiations³, but lawmakers from both major political parties continue to voice anger and urge caution.
　
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, right, and Treasury⁴ Secretary Henry Paulson testify on Capitol Hill, 23 Sep 2008

As Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Christopher Cox testified before the Senate Banking⁵ Committee, Vice⁶ President Dick Cheney and other administration officials tried to ease concerns of those in President Bush's party.

As House Minority Leader John Boehner put it, Cheney was invited by the Republican leadership to explain the nature of the financial crisis and why the administration's solution is necessary.

But Boehner acknowledged that many Republicans have serious concerns about the Bush administration's approach.

"Nobody wants to do this; nobody wants to be involved in this; nobody wants to take the chance," he said. "But I would argue that if we do nothing we are jeopardizing⁷ our economy, jobs and people's retirement⁸ security."

What began as a three-page proposal from the administration has grown considerably¹⁰, involving a government expenditure¹¹ of hundreds of billions of dollars to purchase bad mortgage debt and other troubled assets to prop⁹ up financial institutions and banks, and stabilize¹² markets.

But the magnitude of the proposal has upset conservative House Republicans, who used a news conference to explain objections to the plan.

"There are those in the public debate who say we must act now," said Indiana Republican Mike Pence. "The last time I heard that, I was on a used car lot. The truth is every time somebody tells you that you have to do the deal right now, it usually means they are going to get the better part of the deal. The American people deserve a seat at the table in this debate as well."

Pence and other Republican Representatives are in some agreement with House Democrats who say Congress should spend more time considering solutions.
　
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Democratic Caucus¹³ Chairman Rahm Emanuel (D-IL) at Capitol Hill news conference, 23 Sept. 2008

For their part, Democrats have insisted on changes to improve accountability and oversight¹⁴, and further protections for Americans against more financial stress.

"The party is over for this compensation for CEOs who take the golden parachute as they drive their companies into the ground," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. "The party is over for the disparity in our country between CEOs making almost immoral¹⁵ salaries and not being interested in lifting people up. The party is over for financial institutions taking risks but at the same time privatizing any gain they may have while they nationalize the risk, asking taxpayers¹⁶ to pick up the tab."

Pelosi declined to answer when reporters pressed her about when a bill might reach the House and Senate floors.

She also faces pressure from a group of House Democrats who insist that actions by the Treasury Secretary be reviewable by the courts, and that a three-member bipartisan board approve asset purchases of more than $1 billion.

Democrats have clearly linked action on the financial bailout plan with their additional aim of bringing up separate measures to bolster¹⁷ the U.S. economy.

With little action on Tuesday on either front, lawmakers say they are preparing for the possibility that Congress will remain in session through Friday, when adjournment¹⁸ had been planned to prepare for the November general elections.

 

1 allay   

v.消除，减轻(恐惧、怀疑等)

参考例句：

• The police tried to allay her fears but failed.警察力图减轻她的恐惧，但是没有收到什么效果。
• They are trying to allay public fears about the spread of the disease.他们正竭力减轻公众对这种疾病传播的恐惧。

2 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》

3 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

4 treasury   

n.宝库；国库，金库；文库

参考例句：

• The Treasury was opposed in principle to the proposals.财政部原则上反对这些提案。
• This book is a treasury of useful information.这本书是有价值的信息宝库。

5 banking   

n.银行业，银行学，金融业

参考例句：

• John is launching his son on a career in banking.约翰打算让儿子在银行界谋一个新职位。
• He possesses an extensive knowledge of banking.他具有广博的银行业务知识。

6 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

7 jeopardizing   

危及，损害( jeopardize的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Plans may also become inefficient in the attainment of objectives by jeopardizing group satisfactions. 用危及群体利益方法去达到目标的计划，也是无效率的。
• That boosted government revenues in the short term, but is now jeopardizing them. Morales将天然气工业，电信业和部分采矿业收归国有的举措吓跑了投资者们。

8 retirement   

n.退休，退职

参考例句：

• She wanted to enjoy her retirement without being beset by financial worries.她想享受退休生活而不必为金钱担忧。
• I have to put everything away for my retirement.我必须把一切都积蓄起来以便退休后用。

9 prop   

vt.支撑；n.支柱，支撑物；支持者，靠山

参考例句：

• A worker put a prop against the wall of the tunnel to keep it from falling.一名工人用东西支撑住隧道壁好使它不会倒塌。
• The government does not intend to prop up declining industries.政府无意扶持不景气的企业。

10 considerably   

adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上

参考例句：

• The economic situation has changed considerably.经济形势已发生了相当大的变化。
• The gap has narrowed considerably.分歧大大缩小了。

11 expenditure   

n.(时间、劳力、金钱等)支出；使用，消耗

参考例句：

• The entry of all expenditure is necessary.有必要把一切开支入账。
• The monthly expenditure of our family is four hundred dollars altogether.我们一家的开销每月共计四百元。

12 stabilize   

vt.（使）稳定，使稳固，使稳定平衡；vi.稳定

参考例句：

• They are eager to stabilize currencies.他们急于稳定货币。
• His blood pressure tended to stabilize.他的血压趋向稳定。

13 caucus   

n.秘密会议；干部会议；v.（参加）干部开会议

参考例句：

• This multi-staged caucus takes several months.这个多级会议常常历时好几个月。
• It kept the Democratic caucus from fragmenting.它也使得民主党的核心小组避免了土崩瓦解的危险。

14 oversight   

n.勘漏，失察，疏忽

参考例句：

• I consider this a gross oversight on your part.我把这件事看作是你的一大疏忽。
• Your essay was not marked through an oversight on my part.由于我的疏忽你的文章没有打分。

15 immoral   

adj.不道德的，淫荡的，荒淫的，有伤风化的

参考例句：

• She was questioned about his immoral conduct toward her.她被询问过有关他对她的不道德行为的情况。
• It is my belief that nuclear weapons are immoral.我相信使核武器是不邪恶的。

16 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。

17 bolster   

n.枕垫；v.支持，鼓励

参考例句：

• The high interest rates helped to bolster up the economy.高利率使经济更稳健。
• He tried to bolster up their morale.他尽力鼓舞他们的士气。

18 adjournment   

休会； 延期； 休会期； 休庭期

参考例句：

• The adjournment of the case lasted for two weeks. 该案休庭期为两周。
• The solicitor moved for an adjournment of the case. 律师请求将这个案件的诉讼延期。