(单词翻译:单击)
听力文本
William Brangham: But first, millions of Americans across the country got a pay raise starting today. Lisa Desjardins reviews some of the many new state laws that just went into effect.
Lisa Desjardins: The changes impact big policy areas, from minimum wage increases to immigration and the legalization of marijuana in California, the nation's largest state. In some cases, states are acting where the federal government cannot or will not. Reid Wilson is a reporter at The Hill newspaper. Let's start with a map about these minimum wage increases. In effect today, 18 states are raising their minimum wage. And, right now, of course, the federal minimum wage is $7.25. So, how significant are these increases?
Reid Wilson: Well, in some states, they're very significant.
Mainers are going to see a minimum wage increase of a full dollar per hour. In a state like Washington state, the minimum wage is going up by 50 cents. In some other states, not so significant. Alaska's minimum wage goes up just 4 cents today.
But across the board, we're seeing action in those states where the federal government has not changed the minimum wage in a couple of decades now. And the fact is, there are a lot of progressive sort of union groups and pro-labor organizations that are using ballot measures to push the minimum wage to $11.50 in Washington state, which is now the highest in the country.
In a couple of years, that will ratchet up to $13.50. And even in some of Washington's cities, in Seattle, in SeaTac, Washington, the minimum wage is now north of $15 an hour.
Lisa Desjardins: And a dollar increase in wage is a really significant in salary.
Reid Wilson: Right. That would be an increase of about $2,000 a year for the lowest-wage workers. That's pretty significant for somebody who is making about $20,000 a year.
Lisa Desjardins: From a national trend, let's talk about a state that is trying to set trends, California.
They are moving leftward in a couple of areas, one, recreational marijuana. Starting today, you can use and buy small amounts of marijuana, with some limits like other states have.
But California is a massive state and economy. Is this going to change sort of drug policy, the drug marketplace?
Reid Wilson: Well, it could change a little bit in Congress, because there are a significant number of Republicans in specifically marijuana legalization states. California is now the sixth state in which marijuana is legal for recreational purposes.
There are a number of Republicans who are trying to push the federal government to leave these states alone. Even if you're anti-marijuana, even if you're a conservative Republican, you don't want the federal Justice Department suing your state over something that your voters chose. That's not a great way to do public policy. That's not a great way to get reelected.
So, I think, in — as more states move towards legalization, we're going to start to see some changing attitudes in Congress, not necessarily a pro-legalization attitude change, but just a hands-off, let's let the states do what they want.
Lisa Desjardins: California is also making a very big policy statement on immigration, the state now calling itself, as of today, a sanctuary state. What does that mean?
Reid Wilson: So, California has passed a law that will prohibit state law enforcement agencies from liaising with the federal immigration authorities in some senses.
If there is somebody who is arrested and charged with a very serious crime — there's a list of about 60 crimes that they could qualify for — yes, the California law enforcement can hand that person over for deportation at the end of his or her sentence.
But just an average — say, a traffic stop or something like that, if the feds ask for a detainer request — or submit a detainer request, California law enforcement will not necessarily honor that.
Lisa Desjardins: Yes, and I understood that now some desks at workplaces that ICE has in local sheriff's departments, they're now being asked to leave.
Reid Wilson: Right. And this is part of a larger movement that we're seeing in liberal states and mostly larger cities that are trying to build a relationship between local police departments and immigrant communities. That relationship, they say, helps reduce crime.
Federal authorities want to effectively find ways to deport those who are in the country illegally. It's a tenuous sort of triangle there, but it's one that local law enforcement agencies are increasingly asserting their rights over.
Lisa Desjardins: Obviously, a lot of politics there, too. Let's end on a fun note. There's always these thousands of new laws every January 1, always some oddball ones. Do you have a favorite?
Reid Wilson: Right. So there are a couple. There are about 40,000 new laws taking effect on January 1. In Illinois, August 4, from now on, will be known as Barack Obama Day. It's not a state holiday, but it's something they're going to observe.
Lisa Desjardins: Considered his home state.
Reid Wilson: Right, of course.
Lisa Desjardins: Well, thank you. Happy new year. Thank you for joining us, Reid Wilson from The Hill.
Reid Wilson: You got it.
重点解析
1.In effect today今起生效
That policy, which is in effect today, denies knowledge of the scientists'concerns and declares that no safety studies on GMOs are required.
这项在今天仍发挥效用的政策全盘否定了科学家们的担忧,并宣称没有必要对转基因食品的安全性进行研究 。
2.Minimum wage 最低工资
Thismay end efforts to set aminimum wagewell above the poverty line.
这可能会使将最低工资定得远高于贫困线的努力告吹 。
3.Moving leftward 亲左
Their success does not necessarily reflect a leftward shift in politics.
他们的成功并不一定表示政治气候转向亲左
。4.A hands-off 放手/不去干预
Thus,they professa hands-off attitudetodespotic regimes in Burma andZimbabwe.
这样一来,他们就可以对缅甸和津巴布韦的专制政权采取不干预的态度 。
5.Law enforcement 执法部门
Sheenjoysasterling reputationin law enforcementcircles and among the communityingeneral.
总的说来,她在执法界和老百姓当中口碑甚佳 。
参考译文
威廉·布朗汉姆:首先,从今日起,全美数百万人将迎来加薪 。丽莎·德贾斯丁回顾了一些刚刚生效的新州立法律 。
丽莎·德贾斯丁:从提高最低工资标准、修改移民法案到美国最大州加利福尼亚州大麻使用合法化,这些变革对各政策领域均产生了巨大影响
里德·威尔逊:嗯,在一些州,涨薪的确意义重大
丽莎·德贾斯丁:增加一美元工资真的是非常重要
里德·威尔逊:对
丽莎·德贾斯丁:从国家趋势来看,我们要讨论一下试图引领国家趋势的加利福尼亚州
里德·威尔逊:嗯,这在国会中,可能会掀起小的波澜,因为国会中有很大一批来自大麻合法化州的共和党人
丽莎·德贾斯丁:加利福尼亚也就移民问题做出了重大声明,该州现称自己为庇护州
里德·威尔逊:那么,加利福尼亚通过了一项法律,禁止州执法机构与联邦移民当局存在任何意义上的联系
丽莎·德贾斯丁:是的,我了解到现在美国移民和海关执法局在地方警署中设立的一些职能部门,现在已被要求解散
里德·威尔逊:对
丽莎·德贾斯丁:很明显,这也是复杂的政治学
里德·威尔逊:有
丽莎·德贾斯丁:因为奥巴马来自伊利诺斯州
里德·威尔逊:对,当然
丽莎·德贾斯丁:好的,谢谢你!新年快乐!谢谢你参加本次访谈,国会山报记者里德·威尔逊
里德·威尔逊:客气了
译文为可可英语翻译,未经授权请勿转载!