VOA标准英语2014--石油繁荣考验北达科他州的立法传统

 

Oil Boom Tests North Dakota Legislative¹ Tradition 石油繁荣考验北达科他州的立法传统

BISMARCK, NORTH DAKOTA —

North Dakota is one of four U.S. states with a legislature that meets only once every two years.  But, the energy boom in Western North Dakota -- and everything that comes with it - is challenging the state government’s ability to respond rapidly to the changing environmental and economic landscape.

An abundance of jobs spurred by the extraction of oil in what's known as the "Bakken Formation" has fueled rapid population expansion in Williston, North Dakota, a town at the center of the oil boom.

That expansion has forced the state and local governments to play catch-up, including the Williston Public Schools.

Superintendent² Viola LaFontaine says she’s dealing³ with a surge of new students on a budget outdated⁴ by at least a year.

“So if I get 300 more kids this year, I don’t get paid for them until the following year," she said. "There’s a year lapse⁵ when you get reimbursed⁶ for your students.  So I have to come up with all the funding now to support my students I have in the system.”

One way to resolve this funding issue would be through the North Dakota State legislature, which meets in the state capital, Bismarck.

But most days throughout the year… this is the scene at the North Dakota state house: an empty chamber⁷, and quiet hallways.

Lawmakers only meet once every two years, for an 80-day legislative session.

“There are a number of infrastructure⁸ issues that probably require more frequent addressing on a more frequent basis than every two years,” said Dean Bangsund, a scientist at North Dakota State University.   He points out that as drilling technology changes, and more wells go into the ground, the state's oil development situation also changes.

 “So every time the legislature meets, we have a new story to tell,” Bangsund said.

“Major issues that come up cannot be decided⁹ or worked on really for a final decision, other than during a legislative session,” Jay Buringrud, director of Legal Service for the North Dakota State Legislature. 

Buringrud says the state gets around the gap in meetings by granting more authority to legislative committees and the state's governor.

“There are committees that are working on these issues on energy development, the impact of energy development and the governor is also working on issues that come up between legislative sessions,” he said.

Earlier this year, Democratic party lawmakers in the Republican-controlled legislature wanted to address some of those challenges.  They urged Governor Jack¹⁰ Dalrymple to hold a special legislative session to address funding issues related to the oil boom.  That request was rejected.

“If you look at it in its entirety, the state is responding, but many people would feel that the state hasn’t responded sufficiently,” Bangsund said.

Williston Superintendent Viola LaFontaine is one of those people.

“Maybe they need longer sessions than what they do," she said. "Some people say 'yeah they’d be better to meet every year.'  I think just make better decisions on the two years you’re there!  And help out western North Dakota.”

LaFontaine could wait until January of 2015 to get the help she seeks.  That’s the next scheduled meeting of the North Dakota legislature.

1 legislative   

n.立法机构，立法权；adj.立法的，有立法权的

参考例句：

• Congress is the legislative branch of the U.S. government.国会是美国政府的立法部门。
• Today's hearing was just the first step in the legislative process.今天的听证会只是展开立法程序的第一步。

2 superintendent   

n.监督人，主管，总监；(英国)警务长

参考例句：

• He was soon promoted to the post of superintendent of Foreign Trade.他很快就被擢升为对外贸易总监。
• He decided to call the superintendent of the building.他决定给楼房管理员打电话。

3 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。

4 outdated   

adj.旧式的，落伍的，过时的；v.使过时

参考例句：

• That list of addresses is outdated,many have changed.那个通讯录已经没用了，许多地址已经改了。
• Many of us conform to the outdated customs laid down by our forebears.我们许多人都遵循祖先立下的过时习俗。

5 lapse   

n.过失，流逝，失效，抛弃信仰，间隔；vi.堕落，停止，失效，流逝；vt.使失效

参考例句：

• The incident was being seen as a serious security lapse.这一事故被看作是一次严重的安全疏忽。
• I had a lapse of memory.我记错了。

6 reimbursed   

v.偿还，付还( reimburse的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Any out-of-pocket expenses incurred on the firm's business will be reimbursed. 由公司业务产生的开销都可以报销。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Employees are reimbursed for any legal fees incurred when they relocate. 员工调往异地工作时，他们可以报销由此产生的所有法律服务费用。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 chamber   

n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所

参考例句：

• For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说，牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
• The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。

8 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。

9 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

10 jack   

n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克

参考例句：

• I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
• He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。