VOA标准英语2014--Washington Week: Focus on Jobless Benefits, US Intelligence

 

Washington Week: Focus on Jobless Benefits, US Intelligence

Whether to restart jobless checks for America’s long-term unemployed¹ will remain the focus of Senate debate this week. Benefits for more than a million people expired in December, coinciding with a dramatic slowing of U.S. job creation.

Unemployment stands at 6.7 percent with more than a million people no longer receiving unemployment compensation.

Protracted² aid for the unemployed is counter-productive, according to Republican Senator John Cornyn.

“We need to help people not maintain their dependency on a government program in perpetuity, but to liberate³ them from that dependency, to help them regain⁴ their self-respect and sense of dignity by finding work and providing for themselves and their families,” said Cornyn.

But jobs remain scarce and many Americans still need assistance, said Democratic Senator Edward Markey.

“People who are offered a job will take a job. The jobs are not there. It is not the fault of these families. It is not the fault of these job-seekers. We should not be punishing them,” said Markey.

Democrats⁵ initially⁶ proposed an emergency three-month extension of jobless benefits. Republicans demanded federal spending cuts to off-set the costs.  Republican Senator Jeff Sessions said benefits cannot be extended on borrowed funds.

“The unemployment bill before us today makes no attempt whatsoever⁷ to find spending reductions in other areas of this monstrosity of a government, but borrows every penny of it,” said Sessions.

Senate Democrats responded with a plan that does not increase the deficit⁸, but extends jobless benefits for nearly a year. Republicans sought to amend⁹ the bill, and complained when majority Democrats blocked them. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell called for greater compromise.

“If Democrats truly want to get anything done this year, they are going to have to learn how to work with us,” said McConnell.

Democratic Senator Jack¹⁰ Reed says Republicans are wasting precious time while Americans suffer economic hardship.

“Every week, 70,000 more lose their support.  We are going to see this number grow and grow and grow while we talk and talk and talk,” said Reed.

The bill needs the backing of at least five Republicans to advance to a final vote.  Late last week, Majority Leader Harry¹¹ Reid promised debate on some amendments¹², but accused Republicans of a double-standard on jobless benefits.

“[Former Republican] President [George W.] Bush extended emergency unemployment benefits five times. Not one of these five times was there a whimper from my Republican colleagues that it should be paid for,” said Reid.

The bill would need to pass the Senate and the Republican-led House to become law.

 

Also this week, President Barack Obama is expected to address recommendations for reforming U.S. surveillance programs exposed by fugitive¹³ former National Security Agency contractor¹⁴ Edward Snowden.

1 unemployed   

adj.失业的，没有工作的；未动用的，闲置的

参考例句：

• There are now over four million unemployed workers in this country.这个国家现有四百万失业人员。
• The unemployed hunger for jobs.失业者渴望得到工作。

2 protracted   

adj.拖延的；延长的v.拖延“protract”的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• The war was protracted for four years. 战争拖延了四年。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• We won victory through protracted struggle. 经过长期的斗争，我们取得了胜利。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 liberate   

v.解放，使获得自由，释出，放出；vt.解放，使获自由

参考例句：

• They did their best to liberate slaves.他们尽最大能力去解放奴隶。
• This will liberate him from economic worry.这将消除他经济上的忧虑。

4 regain   

vt.重新获得，收复，恢复

参考例句：

• He is making a bid to regain his World No.1 ranking.他正为重登世界排名第一位而努力。
• The government is desperate to regain credibility with the public.政府急于重新获取公众的信任。

5 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》

6 initially   

adv.最初，开始

参考例句：

• The ban was initially opposed by the US.这一禁令首先遭到美国的反对。
• Feathers initially developed from insect scales.羽毛最初由昆虫的翅瓣演化而来。

7 whatsoever   

adv.（用于否定句中以加强语气）任何；pron.无论什么

参考例句：

• There's no reason whatsoever to turn down this suggestion.没有任何理由拒绝这个建议。
• All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you,do ye even so to them.你想别人对你怎样，你就怎样对人。

8 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。

9 amend   

vt.修改，修订，改进；n.[pl.]赔罪，赔偿

参考例句：

• The teacher advised him to amend his way of living.老师劝他改变生活方式。
• You must amend your pronunciation.你必须改正你的发音。

10 jack   

n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克

参考例句：

• I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
• He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。

11 harry   

vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
• Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。

12 amendments   

（法律、文件的）改动( amendment的名词复数 )； 修正案； 修改； （美国宪法的）修正案

参考例句：

• The committee does not adequately consult others when drafting amendments. 委员会在起草修正案时没有充分征求他人的意见。
• Please propose amendments and addenda to the first draft of the document. 请对这个文件的初稿提出修改和补充意见。

13 fugitive   

adj.逃亡的，易逝的；n.逃犯，逃亡者

参考例句：

• The police were able to deduce where the fugitive was hiding.警方成功地推断出那逃亡者躲藏的地方。
• The fugitive is believed to be headed for the border.逃犯被认为在向国境线逃窜。

14 contractor   

n.订约人，承包人，收缩肌

参考例句：

• The Tokyo contractor was asked to kick $ 6000 back as commission.那个东京的承包商被要求退还6000美元作为佣金。
• The style of house the contractor builds depends partly on the lay of the land.承包商所建房屋的式样，有几分要看地势而定。