VOA标准英语2009年-Lobbyists Try to Influence Health Care Ref

By Elizabeth Lee
Washington
16 October 2009

 
Man is transported to hospital room 
The U.S. Senate Finance Committee has approved a sweeping¹ health care reform bill aimed at lowering insurance costs and expanding coverage² to more Americans. In the committee's vote, Senator Olympia Snow was the first Republican to vote in support of health care reform. But lawmakers are not the only ones involved in the health care debate. Lobbyists have been paying special attention to the issue. Public policy experts say groups representing the insurance, hospital and pharmaceutical³ industries are powerful in shaping health care legislation. Groups representing consumers and labor⁴ unions are also trying to influence the outcome.

In Washington, a win for President Obama as a health care bill was passed in the Senate Finance Committee...taking him one step closer to reforming health care in America. The latest bill will require most Americans to buy health insurance or face a penalty. Insurance Companies will no longer be able to turn down coverage to individuals with pre-existing conditions.

But the measure still faces stiff opposition⁵. A new report by a health insurance industry group says the overhaul⁶ will drive up costs on families' annual premiums⁷ by as much as $4000 over the next decade.

 
Karen Ignagni, president of America's Health Insurance Plans
Karen Ignagni is president of the group, America's Health Insurance Plans. She says the bill passed in the Senate committee does not include enough penalties to force uninsured Americans to buy coverage.

"If you don't have everybody in the pool, you have a situation where people are encouraged to purchase only when they need it," Ignagni said.

Seven months ago, the insurance industry group pledged to support President Obama's plan.

"You have our commitment to play, to contribute, and to help pass health care reform this year," she said.

Georgetown University professor Judy Feder says lobbyists often change their views as bills in Congress evolve.

 
Judy Feder says lobbyists often change views as bills evolve in Congress
"Healthcare interest groups, like the insurance industry, the pharmaceutical industry, the hospital [industry,] the physicians have a tremendous stake in any changes we make in our health care system and in the current system," Feder said, "and they are always very watchful⁸ about whether those changes are in their interest or in directions they believe will harm them."

Feder says special interests played a critical role in defeating health care reform when President Bill Clinton was in the White House. In the early 90s, an insurance industry group tried tried to scare Americans away from health care reform in one commercial.

"A lot of that had to do with the aggressive opposition of those interests along with some business interest, particularly small business who really attacked the plan," Feder noted⁹.

More than a decade later, the voices in support of reform are louder. The pharmaceutical industry as well as the the largest association of doctors are standing¹⁰ with President Obama, making it a more even fight.

 
Doctor examines patient
Public policy experts say putting pressure on lawmakers and creating fear among American citizens are tools lobbyists use to influence the final outcome on policies being debated in Congress.

And fear is being used by both sides of the issue.

"They frighten people because the American public is very uncertain about the consequences of a big reform," Ignagni said.

There is still a long way to go to health care reform. The House and Senate will have to merge¹¹ their bills. As to which groups get their way in this debate, that could depend on how public opinion evolves and whether lawmakers feel they're better off voting for or against reform.

1 sweeping   

adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的

参考例句：

• The citizens voted for sweeping reforms.公民投票支持全面的改革。
• Can you hear the wind sweeping through the branches?你能听到风掠过树枝的声音吗？

2 coverage   

n.报导，保险范围，保险额，范围，覆盖

参考例句：

• There's little coverage of foreign news in the newspaper.报纸上几乎没有国外新闻报道。
• This is an insurance policy with extensive coverage.这是一项承保范围广泛的保险。

3 pharmaceutical   

adj.药学的，药物的；药用的，药剂师的

参考例句：

• She has donated money to establish a pharmaceutical laboratory.她捐款成立了一个药剂实验室。
• We are engaged in a legal tussle with a large pharmaceutical company.我们正同一家大制药公司闹法律纠纷。

4 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

5 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。

6 overhaul   

v./n.大修，仔细检查

参考例句：

• Master Worker Wang is responsible for the overhaul of this grinder.王师傅主修这台磨床。
• It is generally appreciated that the rail network needs a complete overhaul.众所周知，铁路系统需要大检修。

7 premiums   

n.费用( premium的名词复数 )；保险费；额外费用；（商品定价、贷款利息等以外的）加价

参考例句：

• He paid premiums on his life insurance last year. 他去年付了人寿保险费。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Moves are afoot to increase car insurance premiums. 现正在酝酿提高汽车的保险费。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 watchful   

adj.注意的，警惕的

参考例句：

• The children played under the watchful eye of their father.孩子们在父亲的小心照看下玩耍。
• It is important that health organizations remain watchful.卫生组织保持警惕是极为重要的。

9 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

10 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

11 merge   

v.(使)结合，(使)合并，(使)合为一体

参考例句：

• I can merge my two small businesses into a large one.我可以将我的两家小商店合并为一家大商行。
• The directors have decided to merge the two small firms together.董事们已决定把这两家小商号归并起来。