[ 2006-12-18 10:22 ]
(Dec.16 ,2006)
Good morning. Christmas is fast approaching, and I know many of you are busy trying to finish up your holiday shopping. This week, we received good news about the economy that should brighten the season and keep us optimistic about the year ahead.
First, the Commerce Department released figures showing that sales for America's retailers were up in November and that the increase is much larger than expected. These figures are important because for many American businesses November and December are their highest sales months for the year. So the healthy increase in retail sales is a good sign for American employers and workers.
America's working families also received another bit of holiday cheer this week: We learned that real hourly wages rose by 2.3 percent over the past year. That may not sound like a lot, but for the typical family of four with both parents working, it means an extra $1,350 for this year. At the same time, our growing economy continues to create jobs and that has brought unemployment down to just 4.5 percent. These numbers give all Americans a reason to celebrate: More people are working than ever before, and paychecks are going further than they used to.
When you decide how to spend your paycheck, you have to set priorities and live within your means. Congress needs to do the same thing with the money you send to Washington. That was one of the clear messages American voters sent in the mid-term elections. And one of the best ways we can impose more discipline on federal spending is by addressing the problem of earmarks.
Earmarks are spending provisions that are often slipped into bills at the last minute, so they never get debated or discussed. It is not surprising that this often leads to unnecessary federal spending -- such as a swimming pool or a teapot museum tucked into a big spending bill. And over the last decade, the Congressional Research Service reports that the number of earmarks has exploded -- increasing from about 3,000 in 1996 to 13,000 in 2006. I respect Congress's authority over the public purse, but the time has come to reform the earmark process and dramatically reduce the number of earmarks.
Reforming earmarks is the responsibility of both political parties. Over the past year, the Republican Congress succeeded in eliminating virtually all earmarks for three major Cabinet departments. And I'm pleased that Democratic leaders in Congress recently committed themselves to support reforms that would restore transparency and accountability to earmarks. For this year's budget, they pledged to maintain current levels of spending and not include any earmarks. And they agreed to a temporary moratorium on earmarks.
This is a good start, but Congress needs to do much more. My administration will soon lay out a series of reforms that will help make earmarks more transparent, that will hold the members who propose earmarks more accountable, and that will help reduce the number of earmarks inserted into large spending bills.
Republicans and Democrats alike have an opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to spending restraint and good government by making earmark reform a top priority for the next Congress. When it comes to spending your money, you expect us to rise above party labels. By working together to cut down on earmarks, we can show the American people that we can be fiscally responsible with their money and that we can come together in Washington to get results.
Thank you for listening.
paycheck : salary or wage
earmark : to reserve or set aside for a particular purpose
口语情景对话:走遍美国精选 二度蜜月ACT 3 - 3
英语口语主题:交际英语热门话题47个(2--介绍)
男生女生:我们可以只当朋友吗?
口语情景对话:走遍美国精选 感恩节ACT 1 - 1
英语口语主题:交际英语热门话题47个(25--竞选和辩论)
9句狠话教你怎么用英语让人“滚开”
如何用英语表达“你得减肥了”
实用口语情景轻松学:秋天是北京最好的季节
如何用英文表达“欣赏,感激”
实用口语情景轻松学:交通高峰期影响车速
2011年实用口语练习:歉意如何说出口 1
实用口语情景轻松学:国外理发店实用对话
2011年实用口语练习:5=击掌?
如何用英文表达“你活该”
2011年实用口语练习:当猪飞起来的时候
口语情景对话:走遍美国精选 当仁不让 ACT 3 - 2
2011年实用口语练习:说客 拾人牙慧
实用口语:就餐 Dining
2011年实用口语练习:出恭的各种表达
2011年实用口语练习:口语当中的ball
英语口语主题:交际英语热门话题47个(14--同事之间)
实用口语:浪漫 Romance
实用口语:Bob Brings Cookies to the market
英语口语-商业信函用语引言
趣味英语:搭讪十大妙招
2011年实用口语练习:At the post office 在邮局
2011年实用口语练习:遮人耳目
2011年实用口语练习:高铁开通了
疯狂口语要素精选11
2011年实用口语练习:“淘金热”
不限 |
英语教案 |
英语课件 |
英语试题 |
不限 |
不限 |
上册 |
下册 |
不限 |