2006年VOA标准英语-US Governor Calls for End to 'Partisan Bic

By Mike O'Sullivan
Los Angeles
19 April 2006

Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius  
  
A U.S. governor who has forged a coalition¹ between Republicans and Democrats³ says it is time to end the partisan⁴ bickering⁵ in Washington. Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius says that on issues from health care to education, regional leaders are taking action where federal officials are unable to reach a consensus⁶. The Midwestern politician shared her views with a civic⁷ group called Town Hall Los Angeles.

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Governor Sebelius gave a brief geography lesson to her California listeners, who know Kansas as a place they fly over on their way to New York. She says her state is located in the exact center of the country. Part of the U.S. agricultural heartland, it has more cows than people. But she says the issues facing Kansans are mostly the same ones facing other Americans.

She says the partisan lens through which many Washington politicians view the United States ignores much that Americans have in common. Sebelius is a Democrat² elected in a state with a nearly two-to-one Republican majority.  Forging a coalition of moderates from both parties, she has worked with legislators to overcome a state deficit⁸ of more than one billion dollars and achieve a balanced budget. She says that is an example of the problem-solving approach that is often seen in states like hers, but is lacking at the federal level.

"In government, there is a right way to do things and wrong way to do things, and I think it's a notion that a number of fellow governors and I share, that right now, we are really at a disconnect with what's going on in Washington," she said.

She says states are taking the initiative in areas such health care, ensuring that Americans have access to medicines and doctors. Massachusetts on the East Coast is now implementing⁹ a plan to provide health insurance for all its citizens, a move the Midwestern governor calls a leap forward.

She says governors from both parties share the same frustrations¹⁰. States control the National Guard, made up of part-time citizen soldiers who often help in the aftermath of natural disasters. Many National Guard units are deployed¹¹ in Iraq and Afghanistan, along with their equipment, and she says Washington is slow to reimburse¹² the states for $30 billion worth of missing vehicles and aircraft. In the case of Kansas, that includes Blackhawk helicopters.

"It's a national situation, and we're missing Blackhawks in the western part of the state that you can use to respond to fires," she noted¹³. "We're missing the kinds of equipment we need in the heartland to deal with tornadoes¹⁴ and floods and cleanup. We're missing equipment in the East that responds to hurricanes."

She says federal officials must also do more to resolve the status of millions of immigrants who are in the United States illegally.

Last year, Time magazine named Governor Sebelius one of the nation's five best governors. Asked if she has plans to run for president, she said, maybe some day. She added that she is heartened another woman, New York senator Hillary Clinton, is being discussed as a presidential contender.

"And I think that is very healthy for this country to have that discussion about, 'Are we ready for a woman president?' Absolutely. We're more than ready," she said.

Governor Sebelius said that for now, she is keeping busy doing her own job in Kansas.
 
 

1 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

2 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。

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 partisan   

adj.党派性的；游击队的；n.游击队员；党徒

参考例句：

• In their anger they forget all the partisan quarrels.愤怒之中，他们忘掉一切党派之争。
• The numerous newly created partisan detachments began working slowly towards that region.许多新建的游击队都开始慢慢地向那里移动。

5 bickering   

v.争吵( bicker的现在分词 )；口角；（水等）作潺潺声；闪烁

参考例句：

• The children are always bickering about something or other. 孩子们有事没事总是在争吵。
• The two children were always bickering with each other over small matters. 这两个孩子总是为些小事斗嘴。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

6 consensus   

n.(意见等的)一致，一致同意，共识

参考例句：

• Can we reach a consensus on this issue?我们能在这个问题上取得一致意见吗？
• What is the consensus of opinion at the afternoon meeting?下午会议上一致的意见是什么？

7 civic   

adj.城市的，都市的，市民的，公民的

参考例句：

• I feel it is my civic duty to vote.我认为投票选举是我作为公民的义务。
• The civic leaders helped to forward the project.市政府领导者协助促进工程的进展。

8 deficit   

n.亏空，亏损；赤字，逆差

参考例句：

• The directors have reported a deficit of 2.5 million dollars.董事们报告赤字为250万美元。
• We have a great deficit this year.我们今年有很大亏损。

9 implementing   

v.实现( implement的现在分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效

参考例句：

• -- Implementing a comprehensive drug control strategy. ――实行综合治理的禁毒战略。 来自汉英非文学 - 白皮书
• He was in no hurry about implementing his unshakable principle. 他并不急于实行他那不可动摇的原则。 来自辞典例句

10 frustrations   

挫折( frustration的名词复数 )； 失败； 挫败； 失意

参考例句：

• The temptation would grow to take out our frustrations on Saigon. 由于我们遭到挫折而要同西贡算帐的引诱力会增加。
• Aspirations will be raised, but so will frustrations. 人们会产生种种憧憬，但是种种挫折也会随之而来。

11 deployed   

（尤指军事行动）使展开( deploy的过去式和过去分词 )； 施展； 部署； 有效地利用

参考例句：

• Tanks have been deployed all along the front line. 沿整个前线已部署了坦克。
• The artillery was deployed to bear on the fort. 火炮是对着那个碉堡部署的。

12 reimburse   

v.补偿，付还

参考例句：

• We'll reimburse you for your travelling expenses.我们将付还你旅费。
• The funds are supposed to reimburse policyholders in the event of insurer failure.这项基金将在保险公司不能偿付的情况下对投保人进行赔付。

13 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

14 tornadoes   

n.龙卷风，旋风( tornado的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Tornadoes, severe earthquakes, and plagues create wide spread havoc. 龙卷风、大地震和瘟疫成普遍的毁坏。 来自互联网
• Meteorologists are at odds over the working of tornadoes. 气象学者对龙卷风的运动方式看法不一。 来自互联网