[标准VOA] 美国财政赤字预将冲破记录(1)[080731]
标准VOA,听写,英语,VOA,经济,赤字
In a report to Congress, the Bush administration says federal expenditures will exceed revenues by $389 billion this year, and by a record-high $482 billion in fiscal year 2009. The figures do not take into account the full costs of U.S. operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Office of Management and Budget Director Jim Nussle says a slowing economy combined with the costs of an economic stimulus package, are the main culprits for the current spike in the deficit.
"Earlier this year, the president and Congress, on a bipartisan basis, correctly agreed that action was needed for our economy, and made a deliberate and conscious decision to temporarily increase the deficit in order to get money into the people's hands, and spur consumption," he said.
Despite the staggeringly high deficit numbers, the administration points out that, as a percentage of gross domestic product, the federal deficit will be smaller next year than it was in 2004, when the deficit topped $400 billion.
Nevertheless, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino says President Bush is determined to enforce greater fiscal discipline while pursuing a pro-growth economic strategy.
标准VOA,听写,英语,VOA，经济,赤字 标准VOA,听写,英语,VOA,经济,赤字
