WeeklyAddress13

Congress Must Extend the Middle Class Tax Cuts
Hello, everybody. Over the last few weeks, there's been a lot of talk about deadlines we're facing on jobs and taxes and investments. But with so much noise and so many opinions flying around, it can be easy to lose sight of what this debate is really about. It's not about which political party comes out on top, or who wins or loses in Washington. It's about making smart decisions that will have a real impact on your lives and the lives of Americans all across the country.
大家好。过去的几个星期，关于我们面临的就业、税收以及投资方面的最后期限的报导铺天盖地。但这些观点鱼目混珠，很容易让人迷失方向不知道这场辩论目的究竟是为了什么。这不是那个政党能取得压倒性优势，或那个人能赢得政府的领导地位的问题。这是关于政府能否做出明智的决策从而对大家乃至全国各地的人的生活产生积极影响的问题。
Right now, middle-class tax cuts are set to expire at the end of the year. Time is running out. And there are two things that can happen.
现在，中产阶级的减税政策在年底就要到期。时间正在流逝。接下来只有两种可能。
First, if Congress does nothing, every family in America will see their income taxes automatically go up on January 1st. A typical middle-class family of four would get a $2,200 tax hike. That would be bad for families, it would be bad for businesses, and it would drag down our entire economy.
一种可能是，国会不作为，每个美国家庭都将在1月1日面临所得税上涨的问题。一个普通的四口之家将因此多缴2200美元的税。这对于普通家庭、企业而言都是坏消息，而且也会拖累我们整个经济。
Now, Congress can avoid all this by passing a law that prevents a tax hike on the first $250,000 of everybody's income. That means 98 percent of Americans and 97 percent of small businesses wouldn't see their income taxes go up by a single dime. Even the wealthiest Americans would get a tax cut on the first $250,000 of their income. And families everywhere would enjoy some peace of mind.
现在，国会可以通过一项法案，防止每个人的收入中低于25万美元部分的税率上涨。这意味着98%的美国人和97%的中小企业的所得税一分钱也不会涨。即便是最富有的美国人，他们收入中低于25万美元的部分也可以享受减税政策。全国的家庭都将因此而得到心灵上的慰藉。
The Senate has already done their part. Now we're just waiting for Republicans in the House to do the same thing. But so far, they've put
forward an unbalanced plan that actually lowers rates for the wealthiest Americans. If we want to protect the middle class, then the math just doesn't work.
参议院已经为此做出了努力。现在，我们期待着众议院的共和党人也做出同样的努力。但直到现在，他们却一直在推动为最富有的美国人保持低税率的不平衡方案。即便我们想要保护中产阶级，投票人数也过不了关。
We can and should do more than just extend middle class tax cuts. I stand ready to work with Republicans on a plan that spurs economic growth, creates jobs and reduces our deficit – a plan that gives both sides some of what they want. I'm willing to find ways to bring down the cost of health care without hurting seniors and other Americans who depend on it. And I'm willing to make more entitlement spending cuts on top of the $1 trillion dollars in cuts I signed into law last year.
我们可以而且也应该为延长中产阶级减税政策做更多努力。我随时恭候共和党人提出的刺激经济增长、创造就业以及降低赤字的方案，但必须是让双方共赢的方案。我也希望找到一条途径降低医保成本而不伤及老人以及其他依赖它的人。我也希望在我去年签署的削减1万亿美元支出的基础上削减更多的政府津贴性支出。
But if we're serious about reducing our deficit while still investing in things like education and research that are important to growing our economy – and if we're serious about protecting middle-class families – then we're also going to have to ask the wealthiest Americans to pay higher tax rates. That's one principle I won't compromise on
但如果我们真的想要在削减赤字的同时保持对教育、研究这些对经济增长十分重要的领域的投资，如果我们真的想保护中产阶级，那么我们就应该让最富有的美国人多缴一些税。这是原则，我不会因此而妥协。
After all, this was a central question in the election. A clear majority of Americans – Democrats, Republicans and Independents – agreed with a balanced approach that asks something from everyone, but a little more from those who can most afford it. It's the only way to put our economy on a sustainable path without asking even more from the middle class. And it's the only kind of plan I'm willing to sign.
毕竟这也是本次选举中的中心议题。包括民主党、共和党以及独立人士在内的大多数美国人都明确表示接受人人有所付出而有能力承担的人付出更多一些的平衡方案。这也是让我们的经济在可持续发展的同时避免让中产阶级受到更多影响的唯一途径。这也是唯一我愿意签署的方案。
Everyone agrees we need to bring down our deficit and strengthen our economy for the long-term. The question is whether we can do it in a responsible way that allows us to keep investing in the things that have always made America strong. I'm convinced we can. And if both sides are willing to compromise, I believe we can give businesses and families a sense of security going into the New Year.
所有人都认为从长远来看我们应该降低赤字并巩固经济基础。但问题是我们是否能够以一种负责任的方式做好这件事情，继续保持对巩固美国强大国力领域的投资。我相信我们可以。如果两党双方都愿意妥协，我相信我们可以保证企业和家庭都能有一份安宁的心情迎接新年的到来。
Thanks, and have a great weekend.
谢谢，祝周末愉快！