NPR美国国家公共电台 NPR 2014-02-28

 Arizona's Governor has vetoed a bill that would've allowed businesses to refuse service to gays and lesbians on the basis of religious beliefs. NPR's Tack¹ Robin² says the backlash against the bill overwhelmed the supporters.

Republican Jan Brewer³ explained her veto, saying she saw no upside and little reason to sign the law.  

'I've not heard one example in Arizona where business owners' religious liberty has been violated.'

There was plenty of downside. Since the bill was passed last week by the Republican-controlled Arizona's legislature, everyone from local business waters, to major corporations, to the national football leagues, expressed dismay over the bill. The NFL was reportedly looking into moving next year's Super Bowel⁴ for Arizona. Governor Brewer essentially⁵ said the state can't afford that kind of fallout. Tack Robin NPR News, *.

 

 

Even though a federal court has struck down a gay marriage ban in Texas, it will remain in place and get appeals court ruling which is expected later this year. The judge in the case issued a preliminary injunction on the ban the day, and then suspended this ruling. Two gay couples are challenging the state's constitutional amendment⁶ in a long standing⁷ law banning gay marriage in Texas. Under a federal law, ruling can be suspended if the judge thinks the plaintiffs have a strong case.  

 

 

A sweeping⁸ overhaul⁹ of the nation's luminous¹⁰ and complete tax code was unveiled on the Capitol Hill today by the Republican Chairman of tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee, who as NPR's David reports, appears to be a little desiring Congress will revise the tax code, in a year overshadowed by midterm elections. 

Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp said he could not wait any longer to roll out the rewrite of the tax code. 

'You're gonna hear a lot about one provision or another, but the truth is people want a simpler, fairer and flatter tax code.'   

There revised code will collapse¹¹ 7 income tax rates into just 2, and lower the top rate to 25% from nearly 40%. But it will also impose a 10% surtax on house sold income above $455,000. House Republican Patrick McHenry of North Carolina was not pleased.

'This is not Republican orthodoxy, nor is it the world we've got.'

Other Republicans ruled out any action this year on the tax code. David NPR News, the Capitol.

 

 

Strong earnings¹² numbers of the nation's big banks during the October to December quarter, based on numbers of the Federal Deposit Insurance Cooperation which monitors the banking¹³ industry, are an spike¹⁴ of bank's rough 17% during the final quarter of last year, to a total of just over $40 billion. For all of last year, bankerings drop nearly 10%. Numbers of fresh evidence show that the nation's banking system has mostly recovered some 5 years after the financial crisis. 

 

 

On Wall Street today, stocks edged higher. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained gained 18 points to end the session  at  16,198. The NASDAQ was up 4 points to 4292. The S&P 500 rose a fraction. 

 

 

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Leaders of the protest move in Ukraine, which have ousted¹⁵ their country's president, are now putting forth¹⁶ a prominent law maker¹⁷ as their choice to be  

the country's new Prime Minister. The newest recommended * be appointed to the position, a number of other names for new government there are also being put forth with the formal vote expected later this week in the country's Parliament. Meantime, US is urging outside actors to respect Ukraine's sovereignty. Call comes as its neighboring Russians are reported to be preparing for massive military exercises. 

 

 

Spanish musician, Paco de Lucia, one of the world's greatest flamenco guitarists died. He was 66 years old. NPR's N has the appreciation¹⁸.

* is one of Spain's most respected musicians. Paco de Lucia performed in one of  his show stalkers in 1976. He was born Francisco Sanchez Gomez, and his father was a guitarist. The younger musician started winning international competitions at the age of 14. As he matured, de Lucia started mixing traditional flamenco with music from Brazil, and jazz and pop. He would show a wider international audience to his collaborations with the American and Turkish musicians. His death was unexpected. Paco de Lucia suffered a heart attack, who's only 66 years old. N, NPR News.

 

 

A consumer group has filed a suit against the large For-profit college chain. The consumer financial protection bureau accused the chain of allegedly pushing students to high-cost private student loans. They'll contend Indian-based ITT educational service actually projected 64% of the loan it provided, which had interest rates as high as 16%. ITT says the claims are without merit.  

1 tack   

n.大头钉；假缝，粗缝

参考例句：

• He is hammering a tack into the wall to hang a picture.他正往墙上钉一枚平头钉用来挂画。
• We are going to tack the map on the wall.我们打算把这张地图钉在墙上。

2 robin   

n.知更鸟，红襟鸟

参考例句：

• The robin is the messenger of spring.知更鸟是报春的使者。
• We knew spring was coming as we had seen a robin.我们看见了一只知更鸟，知道春天要到了。

3 brewer   

n. 啤酒制造者

参考例句：

• Brewer is a very interesting man. 布鲁尔是一个很有趣的人。
• I decided to quit my job to become a brewer. 我决定辞职，做一名酿酒人。

4 bowel   

n.肠(尤指人肠)；内部，深处

参考例句：

• Irritable bowel syndrome seems to affect more women than men.女性比男性更易患肠易激综合征。
• Have you had a bowel movement today?你今天有排便吗？

5 essentially   

adv.本质上，实质上，基本上

参考例句：

• Really great men are essentially modest.真正的伟人大都很谦虚。
• She is an essentially selfish person.她本质上是个自私自利的人。

6 amendment   

n.改正，修正，改善，修正案

参考例句：

• The amendment was rejected by 207 voters to 143.这项修正案以207票对143票被否决。
• The Opposition has tabled an amendment to the bill.反对党已经就该议案提交了一项修正条款。

7 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

8 sweeping   

adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的

参考例句：

• The citizens voted for sweeping reforms.公民投票支持全面的改革。
• Can you hear the wind sweeping through the branches?你能听到风掠过树枝的声音吗？

9 overhaul   

v./n.大修，仔细检查

参考例句：

• Master Worker Wang is responsible for the overhaul of this grinder.王师傅主修这台磨床。
• It is generally appreciated that the rail network needs a complete overhaul.众所周知，铁路系统需要大检修。

10 luminous   

adj.发光的，发亮的；光明的；明白易懂的；有启发的

参考例句：

• There are luminous knobs on all the doors in my house.我家所有门上都安有夜光把手。
• Most clocks and watches in this shop are in luminous paint.这家商店出售的大多数钟表都涂了发光漆。

11 collapse   

vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷

参考例句：

• The country's economy is on the verge of collapse.国家的经济已到了崩溃的边缘。
• The engineer made a complete diagnosis of the bridge's collapse.工程师对桥的倒塌做了一次彻底的调查分析。

12 earnings   

n.工资收人；利润，利益，所得

参考例句：

• That old man lives on the earnings of his daughter.那个老人靠他女儿的收入维持生活。
• Last year there was a 20% decrease in his earnings.去年他的收入减少了20%。

13 banking   

n.银行业，银行学，金融业

参考例句：

• John is launching his son on a career in banking.约翰打算让儿子在银行界谋一个新职位。
• He possesses an extensive knowledge of banking.他具有广博的银行业务知识。

14 spike   

n.长钉，钉鞋；v.以大钉钉牢，使...失效

参考例句：

• The spike pierced the receipts and held them in order.那个钉子穿过那些收据并使之按顺序排列。
• They'll do anything to spike the guns of the opposition.他们会使出各种手段来挫败对手。

15 ousted   

驱逐( oust的过去式和过去分词 )； 革职； 罢黜； 剥夺

参考例句：

• He was ousted as chairman. 他的主席职务被革除了。
• He may be ousted by a military takeover. 他可能在一场军事接管中被赶下台。

16 forth   

adv.向前；向外，往外

参考例句：

• The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

17 maker   

n.制造者，制造商

参考例句：

• He is a trouble maker，You must be distant with him.他是个捣蛋鬼，你不要跟他在一起。
• A cabinet maker must be a master craftsman.家具木工必须是技艺高超的手艺人。

18 appreciation   

n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨

参考例句：

• I would like to express my appreciation and thanks to you all.我想对你们所有人表达我的感激和谢意。
• I'll be sending them a donation in appreciation of their help.我将送给他们一笔捐款以感谢他们的帮助。