VOA标准英语2011-Obama: Tax Cuts Compromise to Help Grow U

U.S. President Barack Obama used his weekly radio and Internet address Saturday to outline the benefits of a tax cut package he signed into law in December.

President Obama says the tax cut compromise reached with Republicans will help grow the U.S. economy.

"Independent experts have concluded that, taken together, this package of tax cuts will significantly accelerate the pace of our economic recovery, spurring additional jobs and growth," said President Obama.

Mr. Obama encouraged business owners to take advantage of a new incentive¹ included in the legislation that allows any business to write off the full cost of most of their capital investments for one year.

The president said this will make it more affordable² for businesses to expand and hire, a goal he said should be the government's focus in the coming months.

"Our fundamental mission must be to accelerate hiring and growth, while we do the things we know are necessary to insure America's leadership in an increasingly competitive world and build an economy that will provide opportunity to any American willing to work for it," added Obama.

He also said the package will result in higher paychecks for workers and more money for families, and benefit millions of students through a continued tuition tax credit.

Many Democrats³ in Congress had objected strongly to continuing all tax cuts for the richest Americans, and complained that Mr. Obama had sacrificed his principles to get an agreement.

But President Obama touted⁴ the achievement as a much-needed departure from partisan⁵ divisions and encouraged that to continue.

"What we can't do is re-fight the battles of the past two years that distract us from the hard work of moving our economy forward," Obama added. "What we can't do is engage in the kinds of symbolic⁶ battles that so often consume Washington while the rest of America waits for us to solve problems."

One battle is already underway. Republican lawmakers, who took control of the House of Representatives in the new Congress, are moving to try to repeal⁷ President Obama's health care reform law.

New House Majority Leader Eric Cantor said in this week's Republican address that his party believes the key to real health care reform is to lower costs and improve access.

"The reality is that this trillion-dollar new government entitlement will lead to one-size-fits-all care and put our country on a path to bankruptcy," said Cantor. "Republicans care about health care. We simply disagree that excessive government regulation and sweeping⁸ mandates⁹ on individuals and businesses are the right way to go about it."

The repeal effort is expected to fail, as Democratic leaders in the Senate promise they will block it. But Republicans may succeed in cutting off funding for parts of the legislation

1 incentive   

n.刺激；动力；鼓励；诱因；动机

参考例句：

• Money is still a major incentive in most occupations.在许多职业中，钱仍是主要的鼓励因素。
• He hasn't much incentive to work hard.他没有努力工作的动机。

2 affordable   

adj.支付得起的，不太昂贵的

参考例句：

• The rent for the four-roomed house is affordable.四居室房屋的房租付得起。
• There are few affordable apartments in big cities.在大城市中没有几所公寓是便宜的。

3 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》

4 touted   

v.兜售( tout的过去式和过去分词 )；招揽；侦查；探听赛马情报

参考例句：

• She's being touted as the next leader of the party. 她被吹捧为该党的下一任领导人。
• People said that he touted for his mother and sister. 据说，他给母亲和姐姐拉生意。 来自辞典例句

5 partisan   

adj.党派性的；游击队的；n.游击队员；党徒

参考例句：

• In their anger they forget all the partisan quarrels.愤怒之中，他们忘掉一切党派之争。
• The numerous newly created partisan detachments began working slowly towards that region.许多新建的游击队都开始慢慢地向那里移动。

6 symbolic   

adj.象征性的，符号的，象征主义的

参考例句：

• It is symbolic of the fighting spirit of modern womanhood.它象征着现代妇女的战斗精神。
• The Christian ceremony of baptism is a symbolic act.基督教的洗礼仪式是一种象征性的做法。

7 repeal   

n.废止，撤消；v.废止，撤消

参考例句：

• He plans to repeal a number of current policies.他计划废除一些当前的政策。
• He has made out a strong case for the repeal of the law.他提出强有力的理由，赞成废除该法令。

8 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？

9 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。