VOA标准英语2011--Wisconsin Budget Battle Continues

The battle about balancing a budget in the Midwest state of Wisconsin has entered its second week, with no end in sight.
Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, a Republican, is refusing to negotiate on legislation that would end collective bargaining rights for public sector² employees. His proposed $137 million budget repair bill also calls for increased employee contributions to pension and health care benefits.
Democratic lawmakers opposed to the bill have fled the state to prevent the measure from passing. As tens of thousands of people continue to flood the state capitol of Madison to protest, other states are watching developments in Wisconsin as they prepare to tackle their own fiscal⁴ problems.
Freezing rain and ice did not keep thousands of protesters from filing into the state capitol building in Madison, as the battle to balance Wisconsin's budget entered its second week.
School teachers, government workers, and even police and firefighters joined the chorus of voices in the Capitol Rotunda⁵ opposed to Governor Scott Walker's move to end collective bargaining rights for public sector employees.
Mahlon Mitchell, president of the Professional Firefighters of Wisconsin, said, "This is ground zero for the nation. We are definitely at the critical point. What happens here is going to be reflective all across the nation."
Mitchell admits that firefighters - along with police and other safety officers - are exempt⁶ from Walker's controversial plan to close a $137-million budget deficit⁷. His organization still opposes, however, changes to collective bargaining rights.
"I think if the bill passes, it tells other governors that they can fight organized labor⁸," said Mitchell.
"Wisconsin is kind of a test case," according to Dennis Dresang, professor emeritus⁹ of Political Science and Public Affairs at the University of Wisconsin. He said the final outcome of the budget fight in Wisconsin could have a ripple¹⁰ effect throughout the United States, especially in states facing dramatic budget deficits¹¹.
"This is going to have the biggest implications for those states where Republicans control the Governors office and both houses of the state legislature," said Dresang. "So we're talking especially about Ohio, for example, which seems poised¹² to do this, Indiana, and a number of other states."
New Jersey¹³ Governor, Republican Chris Christie said he supports Walker. Christie is on the verge¹⁴ of a showdown with unions as he unveils his state budget.
Dresang said Christie and other governors may find the resolve to limit the power of unions in their states based on what happens in Wisconsin. "If Wisconsin succeeds, I think it will embolden¹⁵ other states to do the same kind of thing. If it falters¹⁶ in Wisconsin, I think that other states may proceed a little more slowly on this and not be so drastic in terms of the kinds of rights they're talking about taking away."
But the ever increasing number of people braving inclement¹⁷ weather in Madison just to have their voices heard is having an impact outside the state of Wisconsin, according to firefighter Mitchell.
"We just got word that the governor of Michigan said that he doesn't want to fight organized labor because of what he sees here in Wisconsin," said Mitchell.
But it appears Governor Walker does plan to continue his fight against organized labor in an effort to balance this year's budget, and beyond. Wisconsin also faces a $3.6-billion budget shortfall over the next two years.
"What we're proposing in this budget adjustment bill is really about our commitment to the future," said Walker. "And if we fail to make that commitment we're ultimately going to have to deal with the consequences, not only ourselves, but the consequences we'll pass on to our children and their children into the future."
As Walker refuses to budge¹, Democratic lawmakers refuse to return to the state capitol to vote on the controversial measure.
What stands in his way are 14 Democratic lawmakers. They have fled the state of Wisconsin and the Republican controlled legislature, to prevent passage of the bill.
Lawmakers need a quorum¹⁸ for the measure to pass, which requires at least one Democrat³ to be present for the budget repair bill vote in the Republican controlled legislature.

1 budge   

v.移动一点儿；改变立场

参考例句：

• We tried to lift the rock but it wouldn't budge.我们试图把大石头抬起来，但它连动都没动一下。
• She wouldn't budge on the issue.她在这个问题上不肯让步。

2 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

3 democrat   

n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员

参考例句：

• The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
• About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。

4 fiscal   

adj.财政的，会计的，国库的，国库岁入的

参考例句：

• The increase of taxation is an important fiscal policy.增税是一项重要的财政政策。
• The government has two basic strategies of fiscal policy available.政府有两个可行的财政政策基本战略。

5 rotunda   

n.圆形建筑物；圆厅

参考例句：

• The Capitol at Washington has a large rotunda.华盛顿的国会大厦有一圆形大厅。
• The rotunda was almost deserted today,dotted with just a few tourists.圆形大厅今天几乎没有多少人，只零星散布着几个游客。

6 exempt   

adj.免除的；v.使免除；n.免税者，被免除义务者

参考例句：

• These goods are exempt from customs duties.这些货物免征关税。
• He is exempt from punishment about this thing.关于此事对他已免于处分。

7 deficit   

n.亏空，亏损；赤字，逆差

参考例句：

• The directors have reported a deficit of 2.5 million dollars.董事们报告赤字为250万美元。
• We have a great deficit this year.我们今年有很大亏损。

8 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。

9 emeritus   

adj.名誉退休的

参考例句：

• "Perhaps I can introduce Mr.Lake Kirby,an emeritus professor from Washington University?"请允许我介绍华盛顿大学名誉教授莱克柯尔比先生。
• He will continue as chairman emeritus.他将会继续担任荣誉主席。

10 ripple   

n.涟波，涟漪，波纹，粗钢梳；vt.使...起涟漪，使起波纹； vi.呈波浪状，起伏前进

参考例句：

• The pebble made a ripple on the surface of the lake.石子在湖面上激起一个涟漪。
• The small ripple split upon the beach.小小的涟漪卷来，碎在沙滩上。

11 deficits   

n.不足额( deficit的名词复数 )；赤字；亏空；亏损

参考例句：

• The Ministry of Finance consistently overestimated its budget deficits. 财政部一贯高估预算赤字。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Many of the world's farmers are also incurring economic deficits. 世界上许多农民还在遭受经济上的亏损。 来自辞典例句

12 poised   

a.摆好姿势不动的

参考例句：

• The hawk poised in mid-air ready to swoop. 老鹰在半空中盘旋，准备俯冲。
• Tina was tense, her hand poised over the telephone. 蒂娜心情紧张，手悬在电话机上。

13 jersey   

n.运动衫

参考例句：

• He wears a cotton jersey when he plays football.他穿运动衫踢足球。
• They were dressed alike in blue jersey and knickers.他们穿着一致，都是蓝色的运动衫和灯笼短裤。

14 verge   

n.边，边缘；v.接近，濒临

参考例句：

• The country's economy is on the verge of collapse.国家的经济已到了崩溃的边缘。
• She was on the verge of bursting into tears.她快要哭出来了。

15 embolden   

v.给…壮胆，鼓励

参考例句：

• Emboldened by the wine,he went over to introduce himself to her.他借酒壮胆，走上前去向她作自我介绍。
• The Prime Minister was steadily emboldened by the discovery that he faced no opposition.发现自己并未遭到反对，首相渐渐有了信心。

16 falters   

（嗓音）颤抖( falter的第三人称单数 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃

参考例句：

• He never falters in his determination. 他的决心从不动摇。
• The plan never falters; the design never changes. It is all ordered. 大自然从不步履蹒跚，从不三心二意，一切都是有条不紊。

17 inclement   

adj.严酷的，严厉的，恶劣的

参考例句：

• The inclement weather brought forth a host of diseases.恶劣的天气引起了种种疾病。
• They kept on going,even through the inclement weather.即使天气恶劣，他们还是执意要去。

18 quorum   

n.法定人数

参考例句：

• The meeting is adjourned since there is no quorum.因为没有法定人数会议休会。
• Three members shall constitute a quorum.三名成员可组成法定人数。