VOA标准英语2013--Washington Week: Focus on Government Funding, Gun Violence

（单词翻译）

Washington Week: Focus on Government Funding, Gun Violence

In coming days, the U.S. Senate is expected to pass a spending bill for the remainder of the current fiscal¹ year. Total funding will be at reduced levels mandated² by automatic budget cuts. Once differences between Senate and House authorizations are reconciled, both chambers³ will vote on a unified⁴ bill to keep the U.S. government funded through September.

But America’s long-term fiscal outlook remains⁵ murky⁶. President Obama’s three trips to Capitol Hill last week did little to alter a partisan⁷ stand-off on how best to reduce the deficit⁸ in future years.

A Democratic budget blueprint⁹ combines spending restraint with new tax revenue. Senator Patty Murray said, "This is a jobs and economic growth budget.”

Not so, according to the Senate’s top Republican, Mitch McConnell. “My conference [Republicans] opposes this leftwing manifesto¹⁰ masquerading as a responsible budget," he said.

A Republican budget proposal relies on spending cuts alone to improve America’s fiscal health. Congressman¹¹ Paul Ryan:

“Our plan lets Washington spend only what it takes in. This is how every family tries to live, in good times and in bad. Your government should do the same," he said.

The Republican budget is a fantasy, according to Democratic Senator Charles Schumer. “The document is filled with deceptive¹² gimmicks¹³, far-fetched assumptions, and phony arithmetic," he said.

Meanwhile, the Senate will soon take up legislation to curb¹⁴ rampant¹⁵ gun violence in the United States. Last week, the Judiciary Committee approved bills to strengthen gun registration¹⁶ and ban military-style assault weapons.

Republican Senator John Cornyn warns of unintended consequences. “We are considering a piece of legislation that jeopardizes¹⁷ the self-defense rights of law-abiding citizens," he said.

Not so, according to Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein. “No one has presented me with any evidence that a person fares better in self-defense with an assault weapon or a large-capacity magazine than with a standard handgun," she said.

Public opinion polls show a boost in support for stricter gun laws since the December mass-shooting at a Connecticut elementary school.