01-18-08

布希將提出刺激美國經濟構想 (Bush to Offer Ideas for Stimulating Economy)

預計布希總統星期五將提出刺激美國經濟的想法。

在一系列報告說美國目前經濟狀況欠佳之後，星期四，美國中央銀行行長伯南克對國會的一個委員會表示，及時出臺一套新的財政政策將有助於重振美國經濟。

美聯儲的一個報告顯示，製造業的一個重要領域出現顯著下滑。政府部門的另外一個研究報告說，在2007年新建房屋的數量下降了25%，是自1980年以來新房數量下滑幅度最大的一年。

伯南克強調說，任何刺激經濟的成套方案一定要快速實施，也必須是暫時性的。刺激經濟的舉措一般指的是增加聯邦支出，減稅，或兩者並舉。

President Bush is expected today (Friday) to offer ideas for stimulating the U.S. economy.

On Thursday, U.S central bank chief Ben Bernanke told a congressional committee that a timely package of new fiscal policies could revitalize the economy, following a string of downbeat economic reports.

A Federal Reserve report showed manufacturing declining sharply in a key area, while a separate government study said the number of new homes under construction in 2007 dropped by 25 percent, the steepest drop for that industry since 1980. 

Bernanke stressed that any stimulus package must be implemented quickly and designed to be temporary. Economic stimulus packages usually come in the form of higher federal spending, lower taxes or some combination of the two.

敗選後台灣政府發言人辭職 (Taiwanese Government Spokesman Resigns Amid Election Defeat)

在台灣執政的民進黨在上星期的立法委員選舉中遭到挫敗後，台灣兩名內閣部長級官員提出辭職。

台灣行政院新聞局長謝志偉星期五對記者表示，他要在內閣成員計劃于1月28號集體辭職之前就辭職。

媒體報導說，教育部長杜正勝也提出要卸去部長一職。

在上個星期的選舉中，反對黨國民黨贏得了台灣立法院113個席位中的81席。

國民黨的競選綱領是要與中國改善關係，強化台灣停滯的經濟。國民黨把經濟問題歸咎於陳水扁總統所持的傾向台獨的立場。

Two Taiwanese Cabinet ministers have offered to resign, following the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's defeat in legislative elections held last week.

Government Information Office chief Shieh Jhy-wey told reporters today (Friday) that he wanted to quit ahead of the Cabinet's planned mass resignation on January 28th.

Media reports say Education Minister Tu Cheng-sheng has also offered to go as well.

In last week's elections, the opposition Nationalists won 81 of the 113 seats in Taiwan's legislature.

The Nationalists campaigned on a theme of improving ties with China and strengthening Taiwan's stagnant economy, which they blamed on President Chen Shu-bian's pro-independence stance.