VOA慢速英语2015 国会支持率接近历史低点

 

AS IT IS 2014-12-31 Congress’ Approval Rating Near Record Low 国会支持率接近历史低点

The 113th United States Congress ended its work just before the winter holidays. Over the past two years, Congress approved just 202 laws. That was the smallest number passed in 42 years. 

Only 15 percent of Americans have a positive opinion of Congress. President Barack Obama’s Democratic Party lost control of the U.S. Senate in midterm elections in November. Now, the Republican Party controls both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Some observers say they expect even more disputes between Congress and the president this year.

President Obama and others were happy at the lighting² of the White House Christmas tree in December. But nearby, in the Capitol building, legislators were fighting one another over a spending bill. Many Democrats³ were angry about part of a Republican-supported measure that they said helps large banks. Nancy Pelosi is the top Democrat¹ in the House of Representatives.

“And that’s why I was so really heartbroken. I don’t think I’ve ever said that word on the floor of the House -- ‘heartbroken’ -- to see the taint⁴ that was placed on this valuable appropriations⁵ bill from on high.”

Republican and Democratic lawmakers also disagree about immigration. The Republicans said President Obama had misused⁶ his powers when he stopped the expulsion of about four million undocumented immigrants.

John Boehner is a Republican, and the Speaker of the House.

“We’ve also made clear that early on we’ll make a direct challenge to the president’s unilateral actions on immigration. And you can expect that challenge to the president to include real action on border security.”

But political observer Stuart Rothenberg says many Republicans have trouble agreeing on how to change the country’s immigration policy.

“Half the party, or, or, or kind of a significant part of the party, wants a comprehensive solution, understands we can’t be deporting⁷ millions of people, breaking up families, that we just can’t turn the clock back. But a huge chunk⁸ of the Republican Party says ‘people are here illegally, that’s all we need to know, make 'em leave.’”

In congressional elections in November, Republicans won control of the Senate and strengthened their control of the House. But Mr. Rothenberg says that does not mean Republicans will be able to reach all of their goals.

“While we had an election that presumably was a rebuke⁹ to the president, I don’t think he really sees it that way. And while we had an election that puts Republicans in charge, it’s not clear that as a party there is a single voice coming out of the GOP.”

But other observers say the Republicans will be able to come together. William Howell is a political scientist at the University of Chicago. He says Republicans want to show American voters that they were right to put them in power. 

“They need to demonstrate their ability to effectively govern, that they can’t strictly¹⁰ and solely¹¹ be an obstructionist force in American politics."

1 democrat   

n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员

参考例句：

• The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
• About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。

2 lighting   

n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光

参考例句：

• The gas lamp gradually lost ground to electric lighting.煤气灯逐渐为电灯所代替。
• The lighting in that restaurant is soft and romantic.那个餐馆照明柔和而且浪漫。

3 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 taint   

n.污点；感染；腐坏；v.使感染；污染

参考例句：

• Everything possible should be done to free them from the economic taint.应尽可能把他们从经济的腐蚀中解脱出来。
• Moral taint has spread among young people.道德的败坏在年轻人之间蔓延。

5 appropriations   

n.挪用（appropriation的复数形式）

参考例句：

• More commonly, funding controls are imposed in the annual appropriations process. 更普遍的作法是，拨款控制被规定在年度拨款手续中。 来自英汉非文学 - 行政法
• Should the president veto the appropriations bill, it goes back to Congress. 假如总统否决了这项拨款提案，就把它退还给国会。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件

6 misused   

v.使用…不当( misuse的过去式和过去分词 )；把…派作不正当的用途；虐待；滥用

参考例句：

• He misused his dog shamefully. 他可耻地虐待自己的狗。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He had grossly misused his power. 他严重滥用职权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 deporting   

v.将…驱逐出境( deport的现在分词 )；举止

参考例句：

8 chunk   

n.厚片，大块，相当大的部分（数量）

参考例句：

• They had to be careful of floating chunks of ice.他们必须当心大块浮冰。
• The company owns a chunk of farmland near Gatwick Airport.该公司拥有盖特威克机场周边的大片农田。

9 rebuke   

v.指责，非难，斥责 [反]praise

参考例句：

• He had to put up with a smart rebuke from the teacher.他不得不忍受老师的严厉指责。
• Even one minute's lateness would earn a stern rebuke.哪怕迟到一分钟也将受到严厉的斥责。

10 strictly   

adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地

参考例句：

• His doctor is dieting him strictly.他的医生严格规定他的饮食。
• The guests were seated strictly in order of precedence.客人严格按照地位高低就座。

11 solely   

adv.仅仅，唯一地

参考例句：

• Success should not be measured solely by educational achievement.成功与否不应只用学业成绩来衡量。
• The town depends almost solely on the tourist trade.这座城市几乎完全靠旅游业维持。