VOA标准英语2013--New Budget Cuts Cost of Living Adjustments for US Retirement Fund

 

New Budget Cuts Cost of Living Adjustments for US Retirement¹ Fund

About 58 million Americans receive social security benefits. Many live day-to-day on fixed² incomes.

"Everything is going up. It's rising and there is not much you can do about it," Dennison said.

Kay Dennison works part time at a retirement center in Maryland. She worries she could lose everything if her monthly checks don't keep up with inflation.

"Probably my home, because everything is so tight and so high, and the mortgage rates. We've been in our home 40 years and we still owe," Dennison said.

The proposed changes to annual cost-of-living adjustments would save the government an estimated $130 billion over ten years. But AARP, a seniors' advocacy group, says under the new formula the average retiree would get $220 less a year after five years and $862 less annually³ after 20 years.

Economist⁴ Monique Morrissey at the Economic Policy Institute says reducing already meager⁵ benefits on average about $1,200 dollars a month, unfairly targets the most vulnerable Americans.

"Poverty rates for the oldest, old are higher, incomes are lower, they've often used up other resources, they have more out of pocket expenses for healthcare. They're the last group you would ever want to target to take the brunt of these cuts," Morrissey said.

With the U.S. population aging, social security now takes in less revenue than it spends. Conservative economists⁶ say more cuts may be necessary to keep the program solvent⁷.

Charles Konigsberg at the Federal Budget Group says Americans have a choice: increase their contributions or face reduced benefits. 

"The good news is that these problems can be solved if they're addressed now. The longer we wait, the more difficult it is to fix the problem because the growth in spending accumulates over time," Konigsberg said.

Retired⁸ educator Virginia Levy⁹ is more fortunate. Her monthly social security checks help supplement her teacher's pension.

"I'm worried more about future generations, what it's going to do to them. My children are 40 and what's going to happen to them when they are retiring? Their social security is going to be a fraction of what ours is," Levy said.

Indeed, Monique Morrissey says the proposed changes will affect all Americans.

"People think social security is for old people, they don't realize that the benefits that are being cut are really for young people who will be old at that point. This one form of cut, by cutting the COLA, doing it immediately, affects both young and old people," Morrissey said.

The president's proposed budget includes additional cuts to Medicare, and eliminates loopholes for wealthier Americans. But with a mid-term election next year, analysts¹⁰ say it's unlikely Congress will approve the budget without making changes. 

1 retirement   

n.退休，退职

参考例句：

• She wanted to enjoy her retirement without being beset by financial worries.她想享受退休生活而不必为金钱担忧。
• I have to put everything away for my retirement.我必须把一切都积蓄起来以便退休后用。

2 fixed   

adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的

参考例句：

• Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗？
• Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定，我们就不应该随意改变。

3 annually   

adv.一年一次，每年

参考例句：

• Many migratory birds visit this lake annually.许多候鸟每年到这个湖上作短期逗留。
• They celebrate their wedding anniversary annually.他们每年庆祝一番结婚纪念日。

4 economist   

n.经济学家，经济专家，节俭的人

参考例句：

• He cast a professional economist's eyes on the problem.他以经济学行家的眼光审视这个问题。
• He's an economist who thinks he knows all the answers.他是个经济学家，自以为什么都懂。

5 meager   

adj.缺乏的，不足的，瘦的

参考例句：

• He could not support his family on his meager salary.他靠微薄的工资无法养家。
• The two men and the woman grouped about the fire and began their meager meal.两个男人同一个女人围着火，开始吃起少得可怜的午饭。

6 economists   

n.经济学家，经济专家( economist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The sudden rise in share prices has confounded economists. 股价的突然上涨使经济学家大惑不解。
• Foreign bankers and economists cautiously welcomed the minister's initiative. 外国银行家和经济学家对部长的倡议反应谨慎。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 solvent   

n.溶剂；adj.有偿付能力的

参考例句：

• Gasoline is a solvent liquid which removes grease spots.汽油是一种能去掉油污的有溶解力的液体。
• A bankrupt company is not solvent.一个破产的公司是没有偿还债务的能力的。

8 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

9 levy   

n.征收税或其他款项，征收额

参考例句：

• They levy a tax on him.他们向他征税。
• A direct food levy was imposed by the local government.地方政府征收了食品税。

10 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。