VOA标准英语2009年-Obama Meets Bankers, Urges More Busine

Paula Wolfson | White House 14 December 2009

 
President Barack Obama meets with members of the financial industry in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, 14 Dec 2009

The president says his message to the financial sector¹ is simple. "America's banks received extraordinary assistance from American taxpayers² to rebuild their industry. And now that they are back on their feet we expect an extraordinary commitment from them to help rebuild our economy."

He says the first step is to increase lending to small and medium-sized businesses - the main engines for job creation in the country.

The president says he knows banks do not want to make the kinds of risky³ loans that got them in trouble in the first place. But he says there are ways to minimize risk and help entrepreneurs.

"Given the difficulty business people are having as lending has declined, and given the exceptional assistance banks received to get them through a difficult time, we expect them to explore every responsible way to help get our economy moving again," said Mr. Obama.

In a brief appearance before reporters, the president also called for the banks to support efforts to reform the financial-services industry.

He said he was told during the meeting the industry supports reform. But he noted⁴ the bankers have intermediaries trying to kill the necessary legislation. "So I made it clear that it is both in the country's interest and ultimately in the financial industry's interest to have updated rules of the road to prevent abuse and excess," the president told reporters.

In a television interview aired on the eve of the meeting, the president left no doubt his patience with Wall Street is running out.

Mr. Obama told the CBS program 60 Minutes he did not go into office to bail⁵ out a bunch of wealthy bankers. He said Wall Street does not understand the frustration⁶ and anger felt by many Americans who see the big bonuses paid to banking⁷ executives.

But the president's leverage⁸ with those who received billions in government assistance is growing somewhat limited. Most of the bailout money has been repaid. And just hours before the White House meeting began, the banking giant Citigroup announced it was ready to repay $20 billion it received from the Treasury⁹ Department.

 

1 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

2 taxpayers   

纳税人，纳税的机构( taxpayer的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Finance for education comes from taxpayers. 教育经费来自纳税人。
• She was declaiming against the waste of the taxpayers' money. 她慷慨陈词猛烈抨击对纳税人金钱的浪费。

3 risky   

adj.有风险的，冒险的

参考例句：

• It may be risky but we will chance it anyhow.这可能有危险，但我们无论如何要冒一冒险。
• He is well aware how risky this investment is.他心里对这项投资的风险十分清楚。

4 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。

5 bail   

v.舀（水），保释；n.保证金，保释，保释人

参考例句：

• One of the prisoner's friends offered to bail him out.犯人的一个朋友答应保释他出来。
• She has been granted conditional bail.她被准予有条件保释。

6 frustration   

n.挫折，失败，失效，落空

参考例句：

• He had to fight back tears of frustration.他不得不强忍住失意的泪水。
• He beat his hands on the steering wheel in frustration.他沮丧地用手打了几下方向盘。

7 banking   

n.银行业，银行学，金融业

参考例句：

• John is launching his son on a career in banking.约翰打算让儿子在银行界谋一个新职位。
• He possesses an extensive knowledge of banking.他具有广博的银行业务知识。

8 leverage   

n.力量，影响；杠杆作用，杠杆的力量

参考例句：

• We'll have to use leverage to move this huge rock.我们不得不借助杠杆之力来移动这块巨石。
• He failed in the project because he could gain no leverage. 因为他没有影响力，他的计划失败了。

9 treasury   

n.宝库；国库，金库；文库

参考例句：

• The Treasury was opposed in principle to the proposals.财政部原则上反对这些提案。
• This book is a treasury of useful information.这本书是有价值的信息宝库。