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VOA标准英语2013--Washington Week: Focus on Austerity

时间：2013-02-26 08:52:46

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Washington Week: Focus on Austerity

America is bracing1 for across-the-board federal spending cuts, known as a sequester2, that will automatically begin Friday. 

“They will slow our economy. They will eliminate good jobs. They will leave many families who are already stretched to the limit scrambling3 to figure out what to do,” President Barack Obama warned.

The president has urged Congress to pass an alternative deficit4-reduction package of targeted spending cuts and revenue hikes.

“These cuts do not have to happen. Congress can turn them off anytime with just a little compromise. They can pass a balanced plan for deficit reduction,” he noted5.

But Republicans reject additional tax revenue, arguing the root of America’s fiscal6 imbalance is runaway7 spending. 

“The sequester will be in effect until there are cuts and reforms that put us on a path to balance the budget over the next 10 years, period!” House Speaker John Boehner announced.

As budget cuts loom8, Democrats9 and Republicans are blaming each other. Fear of voter anger over slashed10 government services has yet to spur a bipartisan substitute for the sequester.

Meanwhile, the Senate is expected to act on President Obama’s choice for defense11 secretary, former senator Chuck Hagel. Republicans delayed a confirmation12 vote earlier this month, demanding more time to probe Hagel’s views on global affairs. 

“This is not about politics. This is not about personalities13. It is about questions like whether Iran should be allowed to get a nuclear weapon,” Senator John Cornyn said.

Republicans have promised to allow a vote this week, and Hagel’s confirmation is expected in the Democratically-controlled Senate. Votes could also be held on CIA director nominee14 John Brennan and treasury15 secretary nominee Jack16 Lew.

The full extent of the Obama administration's backing for same-sex marriage rights could be illuminated17 if the Justice Department files a brief in a landmark18 Supreme19 Court case. Last week, the department urged the court to strike down a law barring federal recognition of same-sex marriages. This week, the department could weigh in on a case challenging California’s ban on same-sex marriage. 

“I think that same-sex couples should have the same rights and be treated like everybody else,” President Obama said a few days ago.

Gay rights advocates want the administration to argue for same-sex marriage as a constitutional right. If the Supreme Court agreed, it could open the door to gay marriage nationwide. The court will hear oral arguments on same-sex marriage next month, with rulings expected in June. 


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1 bracing oxQzcw     
adj.令人振奋的
参考例句：
  • The country is bracing itself for the threatened enemy invasion. 这个国家正准备奋起抵抗敌人的入侵威胁。
  • The atmosphere in the new government was bracing. 新政府的气氛是令人振奋的。
2 sequester Czhw5     
vt.使退隐，使隔绝
参考例句：
  • Everything he owned was sequestered.他的所有财产都被扣押了。
  • This jury is expected to be sequestered for at least two months.预计这个陪审团将至少被隔离两个月。
3 scrambling cfea7454c3a8813b07de2178a1025138     
v.快速爬行( scramble的现在分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞
参考例句：
  • Scrambling up her hair, she darted out of the house. 她匆忙扎起头发，冲出房去。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
  • She is scrambling eggs. 她正在炒蛋。 来自《简明英汉词典》
4 deficit tmAzu     
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。
5 noted 5n4zXc     
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。
6 fiscal agbzf     
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。
7 runaway jD4y5     
n.逃走的人，逃亡，亡命者；adj.逃亡的，逃走的
参考例句：
  • The police have not found the runaway to date.警察迄今没抓到逃犯。
  • He was praised for bringing up the runaway horse.他勒住了脱缰之马受到了表扬。
8 loom T8pzd     
n.织布机，织机；v.隐现，(危险、忧虑等)迫近
参考例句：
  • The old woman was weaving on her loom.那位老太太正在织布机上织布。
  • The shuttle flies back and forth on the loom.织布机上梭子来回飞动。
9 democrats 655beefefdcaf76097d489a3ff245f76     
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》
10 slashed 8ff3ba5a4258d9c9f9590cbbb804f2db     
v.挥砍( slash的过去式和过去分词 )；鞭打；割破；削减
参考例句：
  • Someone had slashed the tyres on my car. 有人把我的汽车轮胎割破了。
  • He slashed the bark off the tree with his knife. 他用刀把树皮从树上砍下。 来自《简明英汉词典》
11 defense AxbxB     
n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩
参考例句：
  • The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
  • The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。
12 confirmation ZYMya     
n.证实，确认，批准
参考例句：
  • We are waiting for confirmation of the news.我们正在等待证实那个消息。
  • We need confirmation in writing before we can send your order out.给你们发送订购的货物之前，我们需要书面确认。
13 personalities ylOzsg     
n. 诽谤，（对某人容貌、性格等所进行的）人身攻击； 人身攻击；人格, 个性, 名人( personality的名词复数 )
参考例句：
  • There seemed to be a degree of personalities in her remarks.她话里有些人身攻击的成分。
  • Personalities are not in good taste in general conversation.在一般的谈话中诽谤他人是不高尚的。
14 nominee FHLxv     
n.被提名者；被任命者；被推荐者
参考例句：
  • His nominee for vice president was elected only after a second ballot.他提名的副总统在两轮投票后才当选。
  • Mr.Francisco is standing as the official nominee for the post of District Secretary.弗朗西斯科先生是行政书记职位的正式提名人。
15 treasury 7GeyP     
n.宝库；国库，金库；文库
参考例句：
  • The Treasury was opposed in principle to the proposals.财政部原则上反对这些提案。
  • This book is a treasury of useful information.这本书是有价值的信息宝库。
16 jack 53Hxp     
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。
17 illuminated 98b351e9bc282af85e83e767e5ec76b8     
adj.被照明的；受启迪的
参考例句：
  • Floodlights illuminated the stadium. 泛光灯照亮了体育场。
  • the illuminated city at night 夜幕中万家灯火的城市
18 landmark j2DxG     
n.陆标，划时代的事，地界标
参考例句：
  • The Russian Revolution represents a landmark in world history.俄国革命是世界历史上的一个里程碑。
  • The tower was once a landmark for ships.这座塔曾是船只的陆标。
19 supreme PHqzc     
adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的
参考例句：
  • It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
  • He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

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