VOA标准英语2010年-Fed Chief Argues for More Central Bank

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke stated his case before Congress Wednesday that the Fed should retain supervision¹ of all U.S. banks and not just those institutions that are too big to fail.  The Fed chief spoke  before the House Financial Services Committee as new efforts to overhaul² the nation's financial regulations get underway.

The Federal Reserve came under fire again as some lawmakers renewed calls to reduce the Central Bank's authority. 

Republican Congressman³ Spencer Bacchus cited experts who claim the Federal Reserve already has too many responsibilities. "Collecting diverse responsibilities in one institution is like asking the plumber⁴ to check the wiring in your basement.  It seems that when the Fed is responsible for monetary⁵ policy and bank supervision, its performance in both suffers," he said.

But Fed chairman Ben Bernanke countered, saying the central bank's expertise⁶ in setting monetary policy makes it uniquely qualified⁷ to identify risks to the financial system.  "Moreover, the insights provided by our role in supervising a range of banks, including community banks significantly increases our effectiveness in making monetary policy and fostering financial stability," he said.

Bernanke's testimony⁸ comes as lawmakers attempt a major overhaul of financial regulations. 

Under legislation proposed by Senate Banking⁹ Chairman Christopher Dodd, the Fed would be given more power to regulate large financial institutions but would no longer supervise smaller banks, those with assets under 50 billion dollars.

Some fed critics are demanding more radical¹⁰ reform.

Congressman Ron Paul argued that a free market economy should set interest rates, not the central bank. "Interest rates fixed¹¹ by the Federal Reserve is price fixing and it should have no part of a free market economy," he said.

But former Fed Chairman, now White House adviser¹², Paul Volcker disagreed. "Neither monetary policy nor the financial system will be well served if our central bank is deprived from interest in and influence over - the structure and performance of the financial system," he said.

Besides the Fed's primary responsibility for setting U.S. monetary policy, it currently oversees¹³ about 6,000 large and small banks.

Under the proposed reforms, it would also manage a consumer protection agency that would regulate financial products.

 

1 supervision   

n.监督，管理

参考例句：

• The work was done under my supervision.这项工作是在我的监督之下完成的。
• The old man's will was executed under the personal supervision of the lawyer.老人的遗嘱是在律师的亲自监督下执行的。

2 overhaul   

v./n.大修，仔细检查

参考例句：

• Master Worker Wang is responsible for the overhaul of this grinder.王师傅主修这台磨床。
• It is generally appreciated that the rail network needs a complete overhaul.众所周知，铁路系统需要大检修。

3 Congressman   

n.（美）国会议员

参考例句：

• He related several anecdotes about his first years as a congressman.他讲述自己初任议员那几年的几则轶事。
• The congressman is meditating a reply to his critics.这位国会议员正在考虑给他的批评者一个答复。

4 plumber   

n.(装修水管的)管子工

参考例句：

• Have you asked the plumber to come and look at the leaking pipe?你叫管道工来检查漏水的管子了吗？
• The plumber screwed up the tap by means of a spanner.管子工用板手把龙头旋紧。

5 monetary   

adj.货币的，钱的；通货的；金融的；财政的

参考例句：

• The monetary system of some countries used to be based on gold.过去有些国家的货币制度是金本位制的。
• Education in the wilderness is not a matter of monetary means.荒凉地区的教育不是钱财问题。

6 expertise   

n.专门知识(或技能等)，专长

参考例句：

• We were amazed at his expertise on the ski slopes.他斜坡滑雪的技能使我们赞叹不已。
• You really have the technical expertise in a new breakthrough.让你真正在专业技术上有一个全新的突破。

7 qualified   

adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的

参考例句：

• He is qualified as a complete man of letters.他有资格当真正的文学家。
• We must note that we still lack qualified specialists.我们必须看到我们还缺乏有资质的专家。

8 testimony   

n.证词；见证，证明

参考例句：

• The testimony given by him is dubious.他所作的证据是可疑的。
• He was called in to bear testimony to what the police officer said.他被传入为警官所说的话作证。

9 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。

10 radical   

n.激进份子，原子团，根号；adj.根本的，激进的，彻底的

参考例句：

• The patient got a radical cure in the hospital.病人在医院得到了根治。
• She is radical in her demands.她的要求十分偏激。

11 fixed   

adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的

参考例句：

• Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗？
• Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定，我们就不应该随意改变。

12 adviser   

n.劝告者，顾问

参考例句：

• They employed me as an adviser.他们聘请我当顾问。
• Our department has engaged a foreign teacher as phonetic adviser.我们系已经聘请了一位外籍老师作为语音顾问。

13 oversees   

v.监督，监视( oversee的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• She oversees both the research and the manufacturing departments. 她既监督研究部门又监督生产部门。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The Department of Education oversees the federal programs dealing with education. 教育部监管处理教育的联邦程序。 来自互联网