This is the VOA Special English Economics Report.
这里是美国之音慢速英语经济报道。
President Obama announced an agreement with Congressional Republicans Monday. It would extend for two years the tax cuts put in place by former president George W. Bush. The tax cuts were to end in January. The compromise extends current income tax rates for all Americans for two years. That includes rates for the richest Americans.
周一，奥巴马宣布与国会的共和党达成一项协议，将前总统布什推出的减税措施延长两年。该措施本将于1月结束。这项妥协协议将美国民众包括富人阶层现行的个人所得税税率延长两年。
The agreement also cuts workers' Social Security taxes by two percentage points. Social Security is retirement insurance paid by almost all American workers and employers.
该协议还将劳工社保税率削减了两个百分点。社保是几乎所有美国工人和雇主都要缴付的退休保险。
The so-called payroll tax holiday would save a family earning fifty thousand dollars about one thousand dollars a year.
这项工资税减免政策每年可以为年收入为5万美元的家庭节省1千美元。
For the president, the most important part of the compromise was the extension of aid payments to unemployed Americans for thirteen months. Last month, the jobless rate increased by two-tenths of a percent to nine point eight percent.
对奥巴马而言，该协议最重要的部分是将失业救济延长到13个月。上个月，失业率上升了0.2个百分点，达到9.8%。
Economists say payments to unemployed people directly help the economy because they spend the money immediately. This has led some experts to call the agreement a stimulus measure meant to improve the economy.
经济学家表示，失业救济对经济起到直接帮助作用，因为失业人员很快就将钱花出去。这导致一些专家称该协议是一项促进经济发展的刺激措施。
President Obama said he accepted the compromise because he wanted to help unemployed Americans.
奥巴马表示，他接受了这项妥协协议，因为他希望帮助失业人员。
BARACK OBAMA: "Because of this agreement, two million Americans who lost their jobs and are looking for work will be able to pay their rent and put food on their table."
奥巴马：“因为这项协议，失业和正在找工作的200万人将能够付得起房租，吃得上饭。”
But the president faces strong opposition from his own party. Democrats object to keeping tax cuts for the rich at a time when the government is struggling with deep budget deficits.
但奥巴马面临着来自民主党内部的强烈反对，民主党反对在美国政府面临巨大财政赤字之际，继续延长对富人阶层的减税措施。
The extension of the tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans is expected to cost about eighty billion dollars over two years. The deal also includes tax cuts aimed at middle income Americans and businesses.
预计在两年内，延长美国富人阶层减税措施将耗资大约800亿美元，该协议还包括针对中产阶级和企业的减税措施。
The House of Representatives and Senate will have to approve the proposal. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell says Republicans support the deal.
众议院和参议院将不得不同意该项计划，众议院少数党领袖米奇·麦康奈尔（Mitch McConnell）表示共和党支持该计划。
MITCH MCCONNELL: "I think the vast majority of the Republican caucus in the Senate feel that this is a step in the right direction, an important step to take for the American people."
麦康奈尔：“我认为，众议院绝大多数共和党核心成员都会认为，这是朝正确方向迈出的一步，也是为美国民众迈出的重要一步。”
Before the agreement, Senate Republicans had threatened to block other measures unless the tax cuts for the richest Americans were extended.
在达成协议之前，众议院共和党人曾威胁，除非延长富人阶层减税措施，否则他们将抵制其他减税措施。
Some Democrats were disappointed that President Obama agreed to the compromise. In two thousand eight, he campaigned on the promise that he would continue tax cuts for the middle class. But he proposed to raise income taxes on families reporting two hundred fifty thousand dollars or more in taxable income.
一些民主党人对奥巴马做出的妥协表示失望。2008年，奥巴马竞选时承诺将继续延长中产阶级的减税措施。但他计划提高报告显示应税所得为2500万美元或更高的家庭收入税率。