U.S. congressional leaders have resumed talks on a $700 billion financial rescue package. The difficult talks resumed after the negotiators agreed to consider proposals from House Republicans, whose opposition to a White House backed plan had threatened to scuttle it.
美国国会领导人星期五恢复讨论7000亿美元的金融救助方案。复会之前，有关各方同意研究众议院共和党人提出的建议。这些共和党议员坚持反对白宫提出的方案，差一点导致救助方案流产。
Just hours before the talks resumed, President Bush acknowledged that disagreements remain over aspects of the massive financial rescue plan, but he said there is no disagreement that something substantial must be done.
就在会谈恢复前几个小时，布什总统承认，有关各方在这个大规模金融救助方案的某些方面依然存在分歧。不过，布什表示，在政府必须采取某种实质性行动这一点上，大家没有分歧。
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Mr. Bush sought to reassure financial markets that a deal would be reached to avert an economic crisis.
布什在白宫前对记者发表讲话，安抚金融市场。他表示，政府将会达成某种妥协，避免出现经济危机。
"We will rise to the occasion," he said. "Republicans and Democrats will come together and pass a substantial rescue plan."
“我们要行动起来。共和党和民主党将共同努力，通过一个实质性的救助方案。”
A White House meeting a day earlier with President Bush, congressional leaders and presidential candidates, Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama, failed to reach agreement. After word that a bipartisan agreement in principle had been reached on a plan, House Republicans refused to go along.
国会领导人和总统候选人麦凯恩和奥巴马星期四在白宫会见了布什总统，但没有达成共识。关于两党已经就这个方案达成原则性一致意见的说法传出以后，众议院的共和党人拒绝附和这种说法。
That plan would allow the government to take over billions of dollars worth of bad home loans and other mortgage-based assets held by investment firms and banks. Several of the country's largest financial institutions have collapsed under the weight of the faulty investments, threatening an even bigger economic crisis.
这个计划将允许政府从投资公司和银行手中接过几十亿、甚至上百亿美元的房贷坏帐和其它抵押贷款支持的资产。美国最大的金融机构中已经有几个因为承受不起这些失败的投资的压力而倒闭，这更增加了发生经济危机的可能性。
The plan under consideration would give Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson $250 billion immediately to begin buying up bad loans, and $100 billion more after certifying that the funds are necessary. An additional $350 billion could be turned over without additional congressional approval, although Congress would have 30 days to object.
国会现在研究的方案是，给财政部部长保尔森2500亿美元，让他马上开始收购那些不良资产，然后在国会确认这些钱使用得当之后再进一步拨款1000亿美元。另外的3500亿美元可以在不经国会专门审批的情况下直接拨给财政部。不过国会可以在30天之内拒绝划拨。
The plan would include strong oversight of the bailout program and ban excessive compensation for executives at failing firms.
这个计划还规定要对救助计划进行严格监督，并禁止那些失败的公司的主管们获得过高的酬金。
Republican fiscal conservatives argue that taxpayer funds should not be bailing out failed institutions who made bad loans. Public opinion polls show that most Americans agree.
在财政问题上持保守立场的共和党人表示，纳税人的钱不应该用来救助那些房贷失误的机构。民意测验显示，大多数美国民众同意这种看法。
"Our goal here in attempting to come to agreement is to do our best to protect American taxpayers," said Congressman John Boehner of Ohio, House Republican leader. "There are a lot of options in terms of how we do that. We are not going to negotiate in front of all of you."
俄亥俄州的众议员约翰·博纳(John Boehner)是众议院的共和党领袖。他对记者说：“我们在这里试图达成一致的目的就是尽我们最大的力量保护美国纳税人。”
House Republicans refused to take part in negotiations on the rescue plan late Thursday. But Friday, after President Bush called Congressman Boehner and Senator McCain met with the Republican leader, the number two Republican in the House, Congressman Roy Blunt of Missouri, agreed to take part in the latest talks.
Democrats say they will not vote for a package that does not have substantial Republican support. They want Republicans to share any political fallout that may result from passage of a such an expensive rescue plan.
民主党人表示，任何方案如果得不到共和党相当的支持，他们是不会参加表决的。民主党希望共和党议员们跟他们一起承担通过这样一个规模庞大的救助方案可能产生的政治影响。
Senate Democratic Majority Leader Harry Reid says with help from lawmakers from the other party, a rescue package could be approved by the time financial markets open Monday morning, something the White House has been seeking.
参议院民主党领袖哈里·里德(Harry Reid)说，只要有共和党议员的合作，下星期一金融市场开市的时候救助方案将会获得通过。这个最后期限也是白宫在努力争取的时间。
"We could have this done by midnight tonight," he said. "We could start drafting it tomorrow. We could vote on it Sunday or Monday."
“我们可能会在今天午夜的时候完成这项工作。明天我们就能够开始起草文件。星期天或者星期一，我们就能够进行表决。”
In related action, Senate Republicans have blocked a proposal for $56 billion in spending to stimulate the faltering U.S. economy. The economic stimulus package would have extended unemployment benefits, increased food aid to the poor and funded job-creation programs. Republicans have strongly objected to the additional spending, saying it would increase the ballooning federal deficit and lead to higher taxes.
参议院的共和党人已经拒绝了一个560亿美元的经济刺激方案。这个方案包括延长失业补贴，增加给穷人的食品补助，和给创造就业的项目的拨款。共和党坚决拒绝扩大开支。他们表示，扩大开支将会把正在急速膨胀的联邦赤字推得更高，导致今后提高税率。 |