2006年VOA标准英语-US Senate Begins Debate on Supreme Court N

（单词翻译）

By Deborah Tate
Capitol Hill
25 January 2006

The U.S. Senate has opened debate on the Supreme¹ Court nomination² of Judge Samuel Alito, with a confirmation³ vote expected as early as the end of the week.   

Judge Samuel Alito leaves Sen. Patty Murray's, D-Wash., office on Capitol Hill Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2006 after a private meeting  
  
Senate Democrats⁶ took to the Senate floor to express their concerns that if Judge Samuel Alito is confirmed to the Supreme Court, he would defer⁷ to presidential power and erode⁸ civil liberties and women's rights.

"In case after case, Judge Alito's decisions demonstrate a systematic⁹ tilt¹⁰ toward powerful institutions and against individuals attempting to vindicate¹¹ their rights," said Senator Ted⁴ Kennedy, a Massachusetts Democrat⁵..

But Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee chastised¹² such critics, and underscored his own support for Alito.

"Those who oppose him are smearing¹³ a decent and honorable man, and imposing¹⁴ an unfair political standard on all judicial¹⁵ nominees," he said.  "I support Judge Alito because he is exceptionally qualified¹⁶ to be a Supreme Court Justice.  I support Judge Alito because he is a man of integrity and modest judicial temperament¹⁷."

If he is confirmed, Alito would succeed Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, who is considered a moderate and who often cast the deciding vote in controversial cases on the divided court.

Democrats are concerned Alito would shift the ideological¹⁸ balance of the court to the right.   They note that Supreme Court justices serve for life, and that Alito could have an impact on the lives of generations of Americans.

Still, there is not enough support among Democrats to block the nomination from coming to a floor vote through the use of a filibuster¹⁹, or extended debate.

Instead, Democrats are using the debate to try to score political points.  They are taking aim at President Bush's decision to order, without court warrants, eavesdropping²⁰ on Americans suspected of having terrorist ties - a move the president defends as legal under his authority.

"The liberties and rights that define us as Americans, and the system of checks and balances that serve to preserve them, should not be sacrificed to threats of terrorism or to the expanding power of the government," said Senator Patrick Leahy, a Vermont Democrat.

Despite the opposition²¹ by many Democrats, the Senate - which is controlled by Republicans - is likely to confirm Alito.  The vote, which could come as early as Friday, is expected to be along party lines.

On Tuesday, the 18-member Republican-led Senate Judiciary Committee approved Alito's nomination, with all 10 Democrats in opposition.