VOA标准英语2010年-US Chamber Outlines Plan to Create 20

The largest business federation¹ in the United States is calling on leaders in government, business and labor² to unite around an ambitious goal of creating 20 million jobs over the next decade.  In his annual state of American business address Tuesday in Washington , U.S. Chamber³ of Commerce President Thomas Donohue noted⁴ encouraging signs for American businesses in 2010 but said the biggest obstacle is "uncertainty⁵."

Despite signs of a gradually improving economy, job growth continues to lag in the U.S.  Unemployment remains⁶ high at 10 percent - after the economy shed another 85,000 jobs last month. 

U.S. Chamber of Commerce President Thomas Donohue says the reason is obvious: uncertainty is causing large and small businesses to think twice before hiring new workers. "If you were in their shoes today, would you jump quickly into new investments and hiring?  Or would you wait for some clarity and common sense to take hold first?," he said.

At the Chamber's annual state of American business address, Donohue outlined what he called an "achievable plan" to create 20 million jobs in 10 years.  The five point plan includes expanding U.S. exports around the world, rebuilding the nation's infrastructure⁷ and maintaining taxes at current levels. 

Donohue says introducing new taxes now would further slow economic growth, or worse, bring about another period of decline. "Congress, the administration and the states must recognize that out weak economy simply could not sustain all these new taxes, regulations and mandates⁸ now under consideration.  It's a surefire [certain] recipe for a double-dip recession, or worse," he said.

Donohue was particularly harsh over a proposal by the White House to tax bank transactions in order to recoup some of the money used to bail⁹ out troubled banks. Donohue said it was a bad idea because the costs would simply be passed on to consumers. "There are so many unintended circumstances when you try and 'gerrymander' [redrawing boundaries to gain political advantage] the economic system to try and meet your political objectives.  It's a bad idea.  Fortunately, the congress would have to approve this," he said.

Donohue's speech comes as President Obama prepares to deliver his first state of the union address and Congress considers additional stimulus measures to create new jobs

1 federation   

n.同盟，联邦，联合，联盟，联合会

参考例句：

• It is a federation of 10 regional unions.它是由十个地方工会结合成的联合会。
• Mr.Putin was inaugurated as the President of the Russian Federation.普京正式就任俄罗斯联邦总统。

2 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。

3 chamber   

n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所

参考例句：

• For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说，牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
• The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。

4 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。

5 uncertainty   

n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物

参考例句：

• Her comments will add to the uncertainty of the situation.她的批评将会使局势更加不稳定。
• After six weeks of uncertainty,the strain was beginning to take its toll.6个星期的忐忑不安后，压力开始产生影响了。

6 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

7 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

8 mandates   

托管（mandate的第三人称单数形式）

参考例句：

• Individual mandates would require all people to purchase health insurance. 个人托管要求所有人都要购买健康保险。
• While I agree with those benefits, I'm not a supporter of mandates. 我同意上述好处，我不是授权软件的支持者。

9 bail   

v.舀（水），保释；n.保证金，保释，保释人

参考例句：

• One of the prisoner's friends offered to bail him out.犯人的一个朋友答应保释他出来。
• She has been granted conditional bail.她被准予有条件保释。