VOA常速英语2013 华盛顿本周聚焦政府关门问题（在线收听）

Washington Week: Focus on Potential Federal Shutdown 华盛顿本周聚焦政府关门问题

WASHINGTON — Once again, the U.S. government faces a potential shutdown driven by a politically-divided Congress unable to agree on federal funding. Later this week, the Senate is expected to pass a temporary spending measure incompatible with a House bill approved last week. Unless the two chambers pass identical bills, a limited government shutdown will begin October 1.

Friday, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives extended federal spending authority, but defunded President Barack Obama’s signature health care law. Republican Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers:

周五，共和党控制的众议院延长的联邦开支授权，但撤销了总统巴拉克·奥巴马签署的医疗法的拨款。共和党女议员凯蒂·莫里斯·罗杰斯说：

“The House has acted to keep the government open, to control spending, and to protect people from an unworkable law that is making it harder on them,” said McMorris Rodgers.

“众议院已经努力维持政府运转、控制开支、保护人民不受那些使他们更艰难的不管用的法律的影响。”

House Speaker John Boehner sounded triumphant.

众议院议长约翰·博纳听起来得意洋洋。

“The American people do not want the government shutdown, and they do not want Obamacare. The House has listened to the American people. Now it is time for the Senate to listen to them, as well,” said Boehner.

“美国人不想让政府关门，他们不想要奥巴马医改，众议院听从过美国人民的意见。现在是参议院听从人民心声的时候了。”

The jubilant tone did not carry over to the Democratically-controlled Senate. Majority Leader Harry Reid:

这种得意的语气并没有压倒民主党控制的参议院，多数派领袖哈里·瑞德说：

“Any bill that de-funds Obamacare is dead. Dead. It is a waste of time, as I have said before,” said Reid.

“任何撤销奥巴马医改的法案都是无效的，正如我此前所说的，这是在浪费时间。”

Democrats say they will only vote to authorize spending that includes funding for the Affordable Care Act, or “Obamacare,” which seeks to boost the number of Americans with healthcare insurance. Senator Charles Schumer:

民主党称他们只投票授权包括平价医疗法案即“奥巴马医改”在内的开支，奥巴马医改意在增加参加医保的人数。参议员查尔斯查尔斯·舒默：

“We will not blink [back down]. Do not get it into your heads that we will. We will not!”, said Schumer.

“我们不会让步的，不要幻想我们会让步，我们不会的！”

Democratic lawmakers have the full backing of President Obama, who has repeatedly blasted House Republicans and accused them of putting America's economic recovery at risk.

民主党议员全面支持总统奥巴马，奥巴马多次指责众议院的共和党，称他们置美国经济复苏于危险之地。

“They would actually plunge this country back into recession - all to deny the basic security of health care to millions of Americans. Well, that is not happening,” said the president.

“我们是在将美国推向衰退，否定了几百万美国人享有基本医疗的保障，这是不能得逞的。”

If the Senate passes a bill funding Obamacare, focus would then shift back to the House - with mere days before the threatened government shutdown begins. 

如果参议院通过给奥巴马医改提供拨款的法案，关注点将很快转到众议院，而距离政府关门也没有几天了。