纽约时报 民主党人警告称 医改法案将引发"5级火警"(1)（在线收听）

Democrats warn of '5-alarm fire' over health law;

民主党人警告称，医改法案将引发“5级火警”;

By Sheryl Gay Stolberg, Robert Pear and Abby Goodnough

文/谢乐尔·盖伊·斯托尔伯格、罗伯特·佩尔和艾比·古德诺

The decision by a federal judge in Texas to strike down all of the Affordable Care Act has thrust the volatile debate over health care onto center stage in a newly divided capital,

德克萨斯州某联邦法官决定废除《平价医疗法案》的全部内容，这一决定迅速将围绕医疗保险的激烈辩论推到了原本就充满分裂矛盾的新政府的舞台中央，

imperiling the insurance coverage of millions of Americans while delivering a possible policy opening to Democrats.

不仅危及到了数百万美国人的保险覆盖范围，还可能让民主党在政策上占了先机。

After campaigning vigorously on a pledge to protect patients with pre-existing medical conditions —

在展开激烈的竞选活动，承诺保护投保前已患疾病的患者们后——

a promise that helped return them to the House majority they had lost in 2010 —

这一承诺帮助他们重新夺回了2010年失去的众议院多数席位——

Democrats vowed to move swiftly to defend the law and to safeguard its protections.

民主党人发誓会迅速行动起来捍卫这项法律，维护其原本保障的保险范围。

On the defensive, Republicans campaigning this fall promised that they too backed the health law’s protections for people with pre-existing medical conditions.

作为防守方，共和党人在今秋参加竞选活动时承诺，他们也会支持医改法案对投保前已患疾病的患者的保护，

But the Texas ruling illustrated the fruits — and possible perils — of their long-running campaign, stepped up in the Trump era,

然而，德克萨斯州的裁决表明了他们漫长的竞选带来的成果——以及可能的风险， 竞选过程是在特朗普时代拉长的，

to remake the judiciary through the confirmation of dozens of conservative judges, including two appointees to the Supreme Court.

为的是通过任命数十名保守派法官重塑司法体系，这些人中还包括两名被任命为最高法院法官的官员。

The ruling, if it stands, would not only do away with coverage protections for people with pre-existing health conditions

如果成立，这项裁决将不仅削弱已患疾病的患者的保险的保护范围，

but also strike down the guarantee of coverage for what the law deems "essential health benefits."

还会撤销法律规定的“基本健康福利”的保障范围。

These include emergency services, maternity and newborn care, mental health and substance abuse treatment, prescription drugs and pediatric care.

这些保障包括紧急服务、妇幼保健、精神卫生和药物滥用治疗、处方药和儿科保健。

But it is so sweeping that many legal analysts believe it is likely to be overturned.

但由于这些保障囊括的内容其实非常多，所以许多法律分析人士认为，这些保障结果可能会整个被推翻。

The Supreme Court, in a 5-to-4 decision, has already upheld the Affordable Care Act’s legality.

最高法院，以5:4的投票结果，判决《平价医疗法案》的合法性继续有效。

The political reaction to the Texas decision, though, is not likely to diminish anytime soon.

不过，德克萨斯州的决定所引起的政治反应不太可能在短期内平息。

"This is a five-alarm fire," said Senator Christopher S. Murphy, Democrat of Connecticut.

“这是一场五级火警，”康涅狄格州民主党参议员克里斯托弗·s. 墨菲说到。

"Republicans just blew up our health care system."

“共和党人刚刚摧毁了我们的医疗体系。”

Top Republicans were by and large muted in their response,

共和党高层的反应大体上都是沉默，

but Representative Kevin McCarthy of California, the incoming House minority leader, appealed to Democrats to come to negotiate a successor to what he called "an unconstitutional law."

但加利福尼亚州众议员，即将上任的众议院少数党领袖凯文·麦卡锡呼吁民主党人前来谈判，为他所说的“违宪法律”协商替代方案。

"President Trump has made clear he wants a solution,

“特朗普总统已经明确表示他想要一个解决方案，

and I am committed to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to make sure America’s health care system works for all Americans," he said in a statement Saturday.

我愿一心与两党同事共同努力，确保美国的医疗保健系统能够为所有美国人服务。”他在周六的声明中说到。

The Democrats’ first step will be in the courts;

民主党的第一个动作将发生在法庭上；

aides to Representative Nancy Pelosi, the top House Democrat, said Saturday

众议院民主党领袖南希·佩洛西的助手们周六表示，

that House Democrats would move quickly to notify the Trump administration that they intended to intervene in the case.

众议院民主党人将迅速行动，通知特朗普政府他们打算介入此案。

A vote on a resolution to do so is expected in the earliest days of the new Congress.

预计新一届国会组成之初，议员们就将对相关决议进行投票。