VOA标准英语 Obama Tells Cabinet to Cut Spending

U.S. President Barack Obama has instructed his Cabinet to cut $100 million in federal spending during the next 90 days, a largely symbolic¹ move designed to draw attention to cost cutting in Washington.
　
President Barack Obama speaks to the media after his first formal Cabinet meeting, 20 April 2009

The president says Americans need to have confidence that the government is spending their tax dollars wisely.

"One of the things that everybody here is mindful of is that as we move forward dealing² with this extraordinary economic crisis, we also have a deficit³, a confidence gap when it comes to the American people. And we've got to earn their trust," Mr. Obama said.

The president spoke⁴ at the end of his first formal meeting with all of the members of his Cabinet - except for Health and Human Services Secretary-designee Kathleen Sebelius who is awaiting Senate confirmation⁵.

Mr. Obama highlighted steps that already have been taken to save money - from consolidating⁶ facilities at the Department of Agriculture to a shifting from business trips to video conferencing at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

"There are a host of efficiencies that can be gained without increasing our personnel or our budget, but rather decreasing the amount of money that's spent on unnecessary things in order to fund some of the critical initiatives that we've all talked about," said Mr. Obama.

The president told the heads of departments and agencies that he wants them to trim $100 million in operating costs during the next 90 days. And he stressed that ineffective programs will be cut in the weeks and months ahead.

He acknowledged $100 million may not seem like much, given the trillions of dollars the federal government spends annually⁷. But he said it is an important start.

"None of these savings⁸ by themselves are going to solve our long-term fiscal⁹ problems. But taken together, they can make a difference and they send a signal that we are serious about changing how government operates," said Mr. Obama.
　
Protesters hold signs in the rain during a tax day protest on the steps of the Capitol in Harrisburg, PA, 15 Apr 2009

But Mr. Obama's critics point out that the $100 million in cost cutting is miniscule - just a tiny fraction of one percent of the federal budget deficit.

Last week, they organized protests around the country on tax day - the deadline for Americans to report their annual income and pay any taxes due.

The top Republican in the House of Representatives, John Boehner of Ohio, says these protesters held a message for the president.

"They are really concerned about the amount of spending that is going on in Washington and the amount of debt that is being piled up," said Boehner.

Boehner appeared Sunday on the ABC television program This Week.

1 symbolic   

adj.象征性的，符号的，象征主义的

参考例句：

• It is symbolic of the fighting spirit of modern womanhood.它象征着现代妇女的战斗精神。
• The Christian ceremony of baptism is a symbolic act.基督教的洗礼仪式是一种象征性的做法。

2 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

3 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。

4 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

5 confirmation   

n.证实，确认，批准

参考例句：

• We are waiting for confirmation of the news.我们正在等待证实那个消息。
• We need confirmation in writing before we can send your order out.给你们发送订购的货物之前，我们需要书面确认。

6 consolidating   

v.（使）巩固， （使）加强( consolidate的现在分词 )；（使）合并

参考例句：

• These measures are meant for consolidating the system of basic medical care. 这些举措旨在夯实基层医疗体系，让老百姓看大病不必出远门。 来自互联网
• We are consolidating the Chinese and English versions of our homepage. 我们将为您提供中英文版本一起的主页。 来自互联网

7 annually   

adv.一年一次，每年

参考例句：

• Many migratory birds visit this lake annually.许多候鸟每年到这个湖上作短期逗留。
• They celebrate their wedding anniversary annually.他们每年庆祝一番结婚纪念日。

8 savings   

n.存款，储蓄

参考例句：

• I can't afford the vacation,for it would eat up my savings.我度不起假，那样会把我的积蓄用光的。
• By this time he had used up all his savings.到这时，他的存款已全部用完。

9 fiscal   

adj.财政的，会计的，国库的，国库岁入的

参考例句：

• The increase of taxation is an important fiscal policy.增税是一项重要的财政政策。
• The government has two basic strategies of fiscal policy available.政府有两个可行的财政政策基本战略。