VOA标准英语2009年-Obama: Big Executive Bonuses Offend Our Va

By Kent Klein
White House
22 October 2009

 
President Barack Obama, 22 Oct 2009
U.S. President Barack Obama is welcoming the Treasury¹ Department's order to slash² top executives' pay at seven big companies that have not paid back their government bailouts. The U.S. central bank will also examine the way bankers are paid.

The government is telling the seven companies that have received the most federal aid to drastically cut the pay of their 25 highest-paid executives.

President Obama says the Treasury Department made the right decision.

"This is America," said President Obama. "We do not disparage³ wealth. We do not begrudge⁴ anybody for doing well. We believe in success. But it does offend our values when executives of big financial firms-firms that are struggling-pay themselves huge bonuses, even as they continue to rely on taxpayer⁵ assistance to stay afloat."

Kenneth Feinberg, the Treasury official leading the pay review, says the executives' salaries will be cut by as much as 90 percent, and their average total compensation will drop by about half, starting in November.

Mr. Obama says Feinberg's actions are a step toward greater accountability in the financial industry.

"I believe he has taken an important step forward today in curbing⁶ the influence of executive compensation on Wall Street, while still allowing these companies to succeed and prosper," said Mr. Obama.

The seven companies affected⁷ by the order are Bank of America, American International Group and Citigroup, as well as Chrysler, General Motors and their financing arms.

The president is asking Congress to approve greater regulation on executive pay.

"More work needs to be done, which is why I urge the Senate to pass legislation that will give company shareholders⁸ a voice on the pay packages awarded to their executives," he said. "And I urge Congress to continue moving forward on financial reform that will help prevent the crisis we saw last fall from happening again."

At the same time, the U.S. central bank, the Federal Reserve, is considering new rules on bankers' pay.

The proposal would not limit bankers' pay, but would allow the Fed to review, and possibly veto, pay policies that cause too much risk-taking at banks.

Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke says some misaligned pay systems encouraged executives to take excessive risks.

1 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。

2 slash   

vi.大幅度削减；vt.猛砍，尖锐抨击，大幅减少；n.猛砍，斜线，长切口，衣衩

参考例句：

• The shop plans to slash fur prices after Spring Festival.该店计划在春节之后把皮货降价。
• Don't slash your horse in that cruel way.不要那样残忍地鞭打你的马。

3 disparage   

v.贬抑，轻蔑

参考例句：

• Your behaviour will disparage the whole family.你的行为将使全家丢脸。
• Never disparage yourself or minimize your strength or power.不要贬低你自己或降低你的力量或能力。

4 begrudge   

vt.吝啬，羡慕

参考例句：

• I begrudge spending so much money on train fares.我舍不得把这么多钱花在火车票上。
• We should not begrudge our neighbour's richness.我们不应该嫉妒邻人的富有。

5 taxpayer   

n.纳税人

参考例句：

• The new scheme will run off with a lot of the taxpayer's money.这项新计划将用去纳税人许多钱。
• The taxpayer are unfavourably disposed towards the recent tax increase.纳税者对最近的增加税收十分反感。

6 curbing   

n.边石，边石的材料v.限制，克制，抑制( curb的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Progress has been made in curbing inflation. 在控制通货膨胀方面已取得了进展。
• A range of policies have been introduced aimed at curbing inflation. 为了抑制通货膨胀实施了一系列的政策。

7 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

8 shareholders   

n.股东( shareholder的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The meeting was attended by 90% of shareholders. 90%的股东出席了会议。
• the company's fiduciary duty to its shareholders 公司对股东负有的受托责任