VOA标准英语2014--Obama Unveils 2015 Budget; Republicans Dismissive 共和党人对奥巴马的2015年财政预算案不屑一顾

 

Obama Unveils 2015 Budget; Republicans Dismissive 共和党人对奥巴马的2015年财政预算案不屑一顾

WHITE HOUSE — President Obama has sent the U.S. Congress his proposed budget of $3.9 trillion for fiscal¹ year 2015 that he hopes will bridge the gap between rich and poor in America.

The president unveiled his spending plan at a bilingual elementary school in Washington, D.C.

“It’s a roadmap for creating jobs with good wages and expanding opportunity for all Americans," said President Obama.

The plan includes more money for early childhood education, tax breaks for the working poor, and increased funding for roads, bridges, and other infrastructure² - as well as job training.  All this, Obama says, will help put more Americans back to work.

But his proposed budget is likely to run into big challenges in Congress, where a skyrocketing deficit³ and America's slow recovery from recession are a focus in upcoming elections.

Republican lawmakers want spending cuts and a reduced deficit. They argue that government spending is not the key to reducing poverty. Senator Mitch McConnell:

"Since 2009, the government has spent almost $18 trillion. Yet millions, millions of middle class Americans continue to suffer, whether in the unemployment line, or in jobs that barely allow them to get by.  It is time the president realizes that doubling down on the same failed policies is not going to work," said McConnell.

Opposition⁴ lawmakers have already declared the administration's defense⁵ portion of the budget dead on arrival. It calls for Army troop levels to be reduced to their lowest levels since before World War II.

 

President Obama's budget battles are just beginning.

1 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。

2 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

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 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

5 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。