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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
Broadcast: Jan 10, 2003
While President Bush is promoting tax cuts to stimulate1 the economy, some state officials are considering tax hikes to fix their budget problems. California's governor, faced with a massive deficit2, is searching for ways to cut expenses and boost state revenues.
Coping with a $35 billion budget deficit, Governor Gray Davis said this week that California faces hard choices. Avoiding specifics like 1)tax hikes, he hinted they may be coming in the first major speech of his second term in office. Mr. Davis said he is now preparing "one of the toughest budget plans ever presented."
"It will make cuts in nearly every program, but it will restore California to sound financial footing," he said.
Since 1999, the Democratic governor has seen a budget surplus evaporate, replaced by a rising deficit. The worldwide economic downturn was part of the reason. The other part was a crisis in the state's energy business, which led to soaring power prices and left California taxpayers3 with a hefty bill. Mr. Davis, a popular favorite when elected four years ago, won reelection last year by a narrow five-point margin4.
Remedies being discussed for the state's budget problems include a one-cent hike in the California sales tax, which now stands at just over seven percent. Economist5 Jack6 Kyser warns that a tax hike in California, or in the many other states now facing budget problems, would undercut the stimulus7 intended by President Bush in the recovery plan announced in Chicago Tuesday. The $670 billion plan consists mostly of tax cuts.
"President Bush, with his economic plan, wants to stimulate the economy, get the consumer out spending, with his tax cuts," he said. "And here, all the states, not just California, are probably going to be proposing tax increases. And so the federal government is stepping on the accelerator; the states are stepping on the brake."
California Republicans said they will fighting proposals for tax hikes, but say they expect them. The deadline for the new budget is June 30.
Governor Davis says he wants to promote the creation of thousands of jobs in the state by streamlining regulations for small businesses. Republicans support that, but also want the repeal8 of some costly9 protections for workers, a move they say will stimulate the state's economy.
The governor's plan for his second term in office also includes creation of a California Office of Homeland Security. Already 2)strapped for money, Mr. Davis is pressing President Bush to help the state pay for added security against terrorism.
Mike O'Sullivan VOA news, Los Angeles
1) tax hike增加税款
2) strapped for用带缚住, 用带捆扎
1 stimulate | |
vt.刺激,使兴奋;激励,使…振奋 | |
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2 deficit | |
n.亏空,亏损;赤字,逆差 | |
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3 taxpayers | |
纳税人,纳税的机构( taxpayer的名词复数 ) | |
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4 margin | |
n.页边空白;差额;余地,余裕;边,边缘 | |
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5 economist | |
n.经济学家,经济专家,节俭的人 | |
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6 jack | |
n.插座,千斤顶,男人;v.抬起,提醒,扛举;n.(Jake)杰克 | |
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7 stimulus | |
n.刺激,刺激物,促进因素,引起兴奋的事物 | |
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8 repeal | |
n.废止,撤消;v.废止,撤消 | |
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9 costly | |
adj.昂贵的,价值高的,豪华的 | |
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