NPR 2009-01-29

President Obama is looking past today's expected House vote on his $825 billion plan to jump-start the economy. He met with business leaders today to urge Congress to complete the process swiftly. NPR's Giles Snyder has more.

The meeting in the Roosevelt Room of the White House was intended to build support for the plan. Mr. Obama said the corporate¹ executives at the meeting including those from Google, IBM, Honeywell and Xerox² know how vital a stimulus³ package would be for the shaky economy. "Their concerns have helped to shape our recovery package and I'm grateful that they are here today to talk about why it's so important that we act and act swiftly. "Congressional leaders have pledged to have the plan ready for its approval by the middle of next month. Mr. Obama promised that the money would be spent in full public view. Giles Snyder, NPR News, Washington.

While it's expected House lawmakers will approve the Administration's package of spending initiatives and tax cuts, it is looking increasingly likely some Republican lawmakers will not be voting for the package. GOP Representative John Boehner of Ohio was criticizing the stimulus measure, saying it doesn't do enough to create jobs and also fails to offer not enough in the way of tax relief. "We think there is a better way. Our fast-acting tax relief that will be offering here soon really will reduce tax rates on the American people. " As currently proposed, the Obama administration plan will contain around $544 billion in federal spending initiatives and $275 billion in tax cuts for individuals and businesses.

Russia is reported to be backing away from plans to deploy⁴ missiles near the border with Poland in what looks to be a goodwill⁵ gesture to the US. NPR's Michele Kelemen reports.

When the Bush administration decided⁶ to put missiles in Poland as part of a missile defense⁷ system, Russia responded by threatening to move its own missiles further west. According to the Interfax News Agency, the Russian military is backing off while the Obama administration considers what to do about missile defense. State Department spokesman Robert Wood called that a positive step and said here in Washington, missile defense is under review. "The President is very interested in exploring whether missile defense is possible and if it's workable, then that's something we will pursue. " But Wood said this is not a decision that will be taken soon, the new administration, he said, will have discussion with Russia and others about it. Michele Kelemen, NPR News, the State Department.

The Federal Reserve wrapped up its two-day meeting in Washington today, saying that it is prepared to keep interest rates at their current low levels between zero and a quarter percent for some time. The Fed's Open Market Committee in its end of the meeting statement also said it's prepared to buy long-term government debt, if need be, to help improve conditions in the financial markets.

On Wall Street something of a rally today. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed up 200 points to end the session at 8, 375. The NASDAQ gained 53 points. The S&P 500 was up 28 points today.

This is NPR.

After avoiding his impeachment⁸ proceedings⁹ in the Illinois State Senate, now appears the Governor Rod Blagojevich will make an appearance after all. That was confirmed by the President of the Senate and comes as wiretap tapes of the governor will play this week as an impeachment trial at the State Capitol. Blagojevich is accused of seeking to sell President-elect Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat to the highest bidder¹⁰. Blagojevich has maintained he did nothing wrong and has called proceedings against him unfair. He is not asking to testify but would rather to offer a closing statement at his trial.

The Food and Drug Administration has released details on the problems at the manufacturing plant in Georgia that was responsible for the current salmonella outbreak. The report shows a series of problems. NPR's Joanne Silberner has more.

FDA inspectors¹¹ cited the plant's manufacturer Peanut Corporation of America for a variety of manufacturing and storage problems, including keeping raw potentially contaminated peanuts next to roasted peanuts, not cleaning equipment satisfactorily and storing products underneath¹² leaky ceilings. In addition, the agency described 12 tests between June 2007 and September 2008 that showed the presence of salmonella. In each case the FDA says, the company then sent samples to a different lab, got a negative response and continued manufacturing. Meanwhile, lawmakers on Capitol Hill had introduced the bill they have been working on since the last Congress. It would among other things provide more funding to the FDA for food inspections¹³. Joanne Silberner, NPR News, Washington.

James Brady, who for nearly 25 years with the popular celebrity¹⁴ profile column "In Step With" has died in his Manhattan home. Brady's death was announced by Parade magazine. James Brady was 80 years old.

1 corporate   

adj.共同的，全体的；公司的，企业的

参考例句：

• This is our corporate responsibility.这是我们共同的责任。
• His corporate's life will be as short as a rabbit's tail.他的公司的寿命是兔子尾巴长不了。

2 xerox   

n./v.施乐复印机，静电复印

参考例句：

• Xerox and Lucent are two more high-tech companies run by women.施乐和朗讯是另外两家由女性经营的大科技公司。
• You cannot take it home,but you can xerox it.你不能把它带回家，但可以复印。

3 stimulus   

n.刺激，刺激物，促进因素，引起兴奋的事物

参考例句：

• Regard each failure as a stimulus to further efforts.把每次失利看成对进一步努力的激励。
• Light is a stimulus to growth in plants.光是促进植物生长的一个因素。

4 deploy   

v.（军）散开成战斗队形，布置，展开

参考例句：

• The infantry began to deploy at dawn.步兵黎明时开始进入战斗位置。
• The president said he had no intention of deploying ground troops.总统称并不打算部署地面部队。

5 goodwill   

n.善意，亲善，信誉，声誉

参考例句：

• His heart is full of goodwill to all men.他心里对所有人都充满着爱心。
• We paid ￡10,000 for the shop,and ￡2000 for its goodwill.我们用一万英镑买下了这家商店，两千英镑买下了它的信誉。

6 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

7 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

8 impeachment   

n.弹劾；控告；怀疑

参考例句：

• Impeachment is considered a drastic measure in the United States.在美国，弹劾被视为一种非常激烈的措施。
• The verdict resulting from his impeachment destroyed his political career.他遭弹劾后得到的判决毁了他的政治生涯。

9 proceedings   

n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报

参考例句：

• He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。
• to initiate legal proceedings against sb 对某人提起诉讼

10 bidder   

n.(拍卖时的)出价人，报价人，投标人

参考例句：

• TV franchises will be auctioned to the highest bidder.电视特许经营权将拍卖给出价最高的投标人。
• The bidder withdrew his bid after submission of his bid.投标者在投标之后撤销了投标书。

11 inspectors   

n.检查员( inspector的名词复数 )；（英国公共汽车或火车上的）查票员；（警察）巡官；检阅官

参考例句：

• They got into the school in the guise of inspectors. 他们假装成视察员进了学校。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Inspectors checked that there was adequate ventilation. 检查员已检查过，通风良好。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 underneath   

adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面

参考例句：

• Working underneath the car is always a messy job.在汽车底下工作是件脏活。
• She wore a coat with a dress underneath.她穿着一件大衣，里面套着一条连衣裙。

13 inspections   

n.检查( inspection的名词复数 )；检验；视察；检阅

参考例句：

• Regular inspections are carried out at the prison. 经常有人来视察这座监狱。
• Government inspections ensure a high degree of uniformity in the standard of service. 政府检查确保了在服务标准方面的高度一致。 来自《简明英汉词典》

14 celebrity   

n.名人，名流；著名，名声，名望

参考例句：

• Tom found himself something of a celebrity. 汤姆意识到自己已小有名气了。
• He haunted famous men, hoping to get celebrity for himself. 他常和名人在一起, 希望借此使自己获得名气。