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President Bush says it is a challenging time for the U.S. economy, so he wants as much as $150 billion in tax relief to help. Opposition¹ Democrats² say an economic stimulus³ package should include greater spending on social programs.

美国总统布什说，美国经济遇到了挑战时期，因此他需要多达1500亿美元来帮助减税。反对党民主党表示，经济刺激方案应该包括在社会项目上更多的支出。

President Bush says he knows many Americans are concerned about the future of the economy, with the risk that continued instability in the housing market could put more jobs in jeopardy⁴.

布什总统说，他了解很多美国民众对经济前景都十分关切，其中一个风险就是房屋市场的持续不稳定可能会让更多工作机会陷入困境。

So he wants a deal with Congress to stimulate⁵ the economy as soon as possible. In his weekly radio address, the president says broad-based tax relief should be big enough to make a difference. He is proposing an amount equal to about one percent of the value of all goods and services produced in the United States annually⁶. That is between $140 billion and $150 billion.

因此布什总统希望和国会联手尽快达成一个刺激经济的方案。布什在每周一次的广播讲话中说，范围广泛的减税措施应该足够产生变化。布什提议的数目大约是美国所有商品和服务业经济总产值的百分之一。这介乎于一千四百到一千五百亿美元之间。

"This growth package must be temporary and take effect right away so we can get help to our economy when it is needed most," he said. "And this growth package must not include any tax increases. Specifically, this growth package should bolster⁷ both business investment and consumer spending, which are critical to economic growth."

布什说： “这个经济增长成套方案必须是暂时而且是立即见效的，这样我们的经济才能在最需要的时候得到帮助，这个刺激经济的成套方案不能包括任何税收的增加。 这个方案还应该特别支持商业投资和消费者的支出，这两方面对经济增长都非常关键。”

President Bush wants tax incentives⁸ for businesses to make investments this year as well as direct and rapid income tax relief for individuals. He says letting consumers keep more of their own money should increase spending at a time when people might otherwise spend less.

布什总统希望给商务的减税刺激能引来今年更多的投资，同时希望直接和迅速地减少个人所得税。他说，让消费者掌握更多的收入可以在人们可能该收紧荷包的时候 增加消费。

The president spoke⁹ Thursday with leaders from both political parties in both houses of Congress. He says he believes a deal can be worked out soon.

布什总统星期四在国会对参众两院的两党领袖谈话时说，他相信很快会达成一项协议。

In the Democratic radio address, Massachusetts Congressman¹⁰ Barney Frank says Republicans and Democrats should act together and act quickly.

来自麻萨诸塞州的民主党议员弗兰克在广播讲话中说，共和党和民主党应该联手尽快行动。

"In terms of immediate¹¹ stimulus, Democrats stand ready to work with the president and congressional Republicans to put together a bipartisan package including tax rebates¹² for most Americans and one-time increases in programs directed at those who are bearing the heaviest burdens in this economy," he said.

“谈到立即刺激经济的议题，民主党人已经准备好和布什总统以及国会共和党议员一道努力，达成一项两党共同的经济方案，包括给多数美国人退税的计划，以及针对那些美国经济负担最重的承受者，一次性地加大退税。”

Frank is chairman of the House Financial Services Committee. He says economists¹³ agree that middle and working class people are most likely to spend additional money in ways that stimulate the economy and create jobs.

弗兰克是国会众议院金融服务委员会的主席，他说经济学家认为中产阶级和劳工阶层人民在刺激经济和创造工作机会方面最可能支出额外花费。

Democrats want to extend unemployment benefits and boost food aid for the poor as part of the stimulus package. That social spending may face opposition from the president who says the deal should not include spending projects with little immediate impact on the economy.

民主党人希望延长失业救济，增加穷人的食品救济，作为刺激经济的一个部分。社会福利的支出可能会受到布什总统的反对，他说这个计划不应该包括对经济没什么即刻效果的支出项目。

President Bush remains¹⁴ determined¹⁵ to make his record tax cuts permanent, but he removed what would have been a big obstacle to any deal by agreeing not to include that demand in this request for a temporary economic stimulus.

布什总统决心将他打破记录的减税措施永久化，不过他同意在要求得到这个暂时的经济刺激计划中，不包括他的这个要求，这样就排除了可能出现的重大障碍。