VOA常速英语2013--本周聚焦华盛顿 关注各州选举及同性恋权利（在线收听）

Washington Week Ahead: Focus on State Elections, Gay Rights 本周聚焦华盛顿 关注各州选举及同性恋权利

WASHINGTON — While the Obama administration continues to play defense on the latest U.S. spying revelations and the technical failures of America’s newly implemented  health care law, Washington is also focused on two state elections with national political implications.

Bordering Washington, Virginia picks a new governor Tuesday.

和华盛顿接壤的维吉尼亚州将在星期二选出新的州长。

Trailing in the polls is Republican candidate Ken Cuccinelli, a fierce critic of President Obama's signature health care law.

在民意调查中落后的是猛烈抨击奥巴马总统签署医疗法律的共和党候选人肯·库奇内力。

“Obamacare represents one of the largest and most reckless expansions of government in the more than 200-year history of our nation,” he said.

“奥巴马医改代表我们国家超过200年的历史中其中一个最大且最不计后果的政府。”他说道。

The rhetoric echoes that of Republican lawmakers whose dogged opposition to Obamacare helped provoke last month's partial U.S. government shutdown.

对于奥巴马医改的顽强反对从而引发上个月的部分美国政府关闭共和党议员的花言巧语声依然不绝于耳。

Some political observers would view a loss by Cuccinelli to Democratic candidate Terry McAuliffe as a rebuke of the Republican Party as a whole -and a possible  indicator of trouble for the party in next year's mid-term congressional elections.

一些政治观察家表示库奇内力会失利于作为整体谴责共和党的民主党候选人特里·麦考利夫, 而且后者也是对于这个党派明年国会中期选举的一号麻烦人物。

Republican prospects are considerably brighter in New Jersey, where Governor Chris Christie is expected to win reelection.

而在新泽西共和党的前景则是一片大好，州长克里斯·克里斯蒂有望赢得连任。

Christie has not shied from national issues, and recently commented on U.S. spying activities.

克里斯蒂一直没有回避国家问题,而且最近也对美国间谍活动发表了意见。

“I have always felt like these programs are necessary and important but they have to have appropriate oversight,” he said.

“我一直觉得这些项目非常必要而且极其重要,但必须有适当的监管,”他说道。

Christie's success in a traditionally Democratic-leaning state has drawn national attention-and speculation he will run for president in 2016, a possibility the  governor is not ruling out.

在这样一个传统上倾向于民主党的州克里斯蒂的成功吸引了整个国家的眼球—有猜测称他将在2016年竞选总统,这位州长并没有被排除出大名单。

“We will see what happens,” Christie said.

“我们将拭目以待,”克里斯蒂说道。

Meanwhile, the issue of gay rights returns to Capitol Hill this week.

与此同时,同性恋者权利的问题本周再度成为国会山讨论的焦点。

The U.S. Senate is expected to vote on a bill to prevent employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

美国参议院将进行投票表决一项防止就业歧视性取向的法案。

The measure has the backing of majority Democrats as well as President Obama.

这项措施已经得到奥巴马总统及绝大多数民主党人的支持。

“We're making clear to every senator who may be on the fence or may not have expressed support for it that we strongly believe that a ‘yes' vote is the right vote on  this legislation,” said White House spokesman Jay Carney.

“我们已经对不管是持观望态度或者也许不会支持的每位参议员讲明的是我们坚信,一项全部赞成的投票才是表决这一立法的正确投票,”白宫发言人杰伊·卡尼说道。

Should it pass the Senate, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act's fate in the Republican-led House of Representatives is far from clear.

如果参议院通过, 在共和党领导的众议院反就业歧视法的命运仍然尚不明朗。

In many U.S. states, gay people currently have no legal recourse if they are fired on the basis of sexual orientation.

而在美国的许多州, 如果同性恋者因为性取向被解雇，他们目前没有法律追索权。