english study

 

2007-8-12

The Senate Finance Committee 参议院的金融委员会

US Treasury Secretary 美国财政部长

sustain large budget deficits in the short term 承受巨大的财政赤字

boost economic growth 促进经济发展

stimulate economic growth 刺激经济发展

the impact of the budget deficit 预算赤字的影响

register a record 创记录

a recovery from recession 从衰退中恢复

The previous treasury secretary 前任财政部长

It is a testimony to the inherent resiliency of the American economy 这是对美国经济所固有的弹性能力的见证

he was thought to be concerned about the budgetary impact of another round of large tax reductions 他被认为对另一轮大幅减税所造成的预算影响存有顾虑

 

Push for Federal Tax Cuts 推动联邦减税案

cut expenses and boost state revenues 削减支出、增加该州收入

it will restore California to sound financial footing 这将会把加利福尼亚带回稳定的财政处境

one of the toughest budget plans ever presented 有史以来所提交的最艰难的预算案之一

Since 1999, the Democratic governor has seen a budget surplus evaporate, replaced by a rising deficit 从1999年起，这位民主党州长便目睹了预算盈余的消失，和赤字攀升状态的出现

The worldwide economic downturn was part of the reason 世界经济低迷是原因之一

a hefty bill 沉重的负担

And so the federal government is stepping on the accelerator; the states are stepping on the brake.

因此，联邦政府是在加速行动，而各州政府却是在进行制掣

The deadline for the new budget 新预算的最后期限

by streamlining regulations for small businesses简化针对小型企业的规定

the repeal of some costly protections for workers 撤销几项花费巨大的工人保护措施

a California Office of Homeland Security 国土安全办公室

 

Mr. Bush spent the weekend at his Texas ranch, where he played host to Australian Prime Minister John Howard

布什先生在他位于德克萨斯州的农场度过了周末，在那里他招待了来访的澳大利亚总理约翰霍华德

with a speech on board an aircraft carrier off the coast of California

停泊于加利福尼亚州海岸的航空母舰甲板上发表演讲

Now that major combat in Iraq is over, Mr. Bush is devoting more and more of his speeches to matters of economic security

既然在伊拉克的主要战斗已经结束，那么布什总统就越来越多地把其演讲的内容定位在经济安全问题上来

Opposition Democrats have launched a new round of criticism on President Bush's economic stimulus and budget proposals

针对布什总统刺激经济的提议和预算提案，反对派民主党人展开了新一轮批评攻势。

eliminating taxes on dividends 取消红利税

giveaway to the rich 偏袒富人的立法

Despite all of the bad news, the president and the Republicans in Congress forge ahead with their reckless budget and ignore the millions of Americans who need economic relief now, in the form of jobs

虽然总是有不利消息传来，但总统和国会的共和党人却执意实行他们那个不负责任的预算案，而对于目前数以百万计的、需要经济救助的美国人，也就是需要工作的美国人，却置若罔闻。

This week, House of Representatives and Senate budget committees are finalizing their respective versions of a spending resolution which will take into account the president's tax proposals

本周，众议院和参议院的预算委员会将最终确定他们各自的开支决议，这些决议将把总统的减税议案考虑在内。

However, Democratic lawmakers intend to introduce alternatives they say will be more fiscally responsible

可是，民主党的立法委员却打算提交一份他们认为在财政上更为可靠的替代方案

Mr. Fleischer did not say when the White House will send Congress a formal "supplemental" budget request taking into account the initial costs of a potential war in Iraq

弗莱舍先生并没有说明白宫何时会向国会提交一份包含潜在伊拉克战争初期军费在内的正式“追加”预算请求

The Senate Monday opens debate on a $350 billion plan

星期一，参议院就一项3500亿美元的方案展开辩论

 

2007-8-13

At a session reviewing prospects for the U.S. economy, Secretary Evans sounded a note of optimism

在以重新评估美国经济发展前景为主题的会议上，埃文斯部长发表了基调乐观的讲话

it allows you to pursue pro-growth fiscal policies

它可以使你贯彻对发展有利的财政政策

We have a very resilient, flexible economy

我们拥有一个非常有弹性和灵活性的经济

a new Gulf conflict could edge the world toward an oil crisis

一次新的海湾冲突将使世界面临石油危机。

He said available, affordable energy supplies were key to long-term economic growth

他说，可利用的、价格不贵的能源供应是经济长期发展的关键

 

A new survey shows family-owned businesses are flourishing despite a sagging U.S. economy.

一项新的调查显示，尽管美国经济在下滑，家族式企业却在蓬勃发展。

Their resilience is part ingenuity, part hard work, and all in the family

它们的活力在于其具有一定的灵活性、付出一定的艰辛劳动，以及全部的家族式管理

A family business can be anything from a corner kiosk selling newspapers and phone cards to a giant corporation, like Mars, the candy bar maker, or Marriott, the hotel chain

一个家族企业可以是出售报纸和电话卡的街角书报亭，也可以是大型公司，像糖果制造商玛兹公司和旅馆连锁企业玛利洛特公司。

The survey was conducted by Mass Mutual Financial Group, a group of affiliated financial services firms.

这项调查是由麻省互通金融集团来进行的，该集团是一个由金融服务公司加盟组成的集团。

David Sterling is the chief executive officer of Sterling and Sterling, an insurance brokerage firm his grandfather started in 1932. He says his company is thriving using similar networks

大卫斯特林是斯特林-斯特林公司的首席执行官，这是一家开展保险经纪业务的公司，由斯特林的祖父于1932年创办。他说，他的公司通过运用相同的网络正在蓬勃发展

If all they can offer is price, we can now match that and they can never match our nimbleness or our service

如果它们所能提供的只是低价，那么我们现在也可以，而且它们永远不能与我们的灵活和服务相比

Besides agility, what gives family businesses an extra edge is the top management's close supervision and detailed knowledge of the entire operation

除了灵活性外，家族企业的优势还在于决策层的密切监督和他们对于企业运作的详细了解

at least he doesn't need to look too far to find a uccessor

至少他不需要为寻找后继者而煞费苦心

 

Washington is moving aggressively to reduce global trade barriers by seeking bilateral trade agreements and by pushing for progress in the global negotiations launched at Doha in 2001

华盛顿方面正在采取积极行动以减少全球贸易壁垒，途径是寻求双边贸易协定的签订和竭力在始于2001年的多哈全球磋商中取得进展。

The sticking point as always is agriculture with the 15 European Union nations generally unwilling to cut their generous producer subsidies

磋商的症结问题与以往一样是与欧盟15国在农业问题上的分歧，这些国家一般都不愿意削减他们对生产者的高额津贴

The meeting in Mexico at the halfway point for finishing negotiations is to assess progress

处于整个磋商进程中点位置的墨西哥会议的目标在于评估所取得的进展

So far the dispute between the United States and much of continental Europe over the war in Iraq has not spilled over into the trade area

到目前为止，美国与多数欧洲大陆国家在伊拉克战争问题上的分歧并没有扩展到贸易领域

 

2007-8-26

on capital expenditures and on equity markets 资本输出和证券市场

Besides war jitters, slow growth in Asia, Europe and the United States, along with the continued slide in the stock market, have all undermined world economic growth

除了战争的阴影，亚洲、欧洲和美国的缓慢发展以及股市的持续下滑全都削弱了世界经济的增长。

Jump starting African economies was also a top item at the Paris meeting. French Finance Minister Francis Mer outlined France's so-called "affirmative action" plan for Africa, which will be discussed during the Evian summit

大力发展非洲经济也是本次巴黎会议的一个重要议题。法国财政部长弗朗西斯梅尔描述了法国针对非洲提出的所谓“肯定性行动”计划，该计划将在埃维昂峰会期间进行讨论。

Mr. Chirac outlined his suggestion at a Franco-African summit in Paris

希拉克先生是在巴黎举行的法非峰会上提出这一建议的。