美國國會將逼迫奧巴馬推行親商議程

The newly elected Republican Congress in the US will press President Barack Obama to enact a sweeping pro-business agenda which cuts taxes, strips the energy sector of regulation and lifts some restrictions on banks imposed after the financial crisis.

共和黨控制的新一屆美國國會將施壓巴拉克•奧巴馬(Barack Obama)總統推行全面的親商議程，包括減稅、取消對能源業的監管，並解除一部分在金融危機後對銀行實行的限制。

The Republicans overwhelmed the Democrats in election victories in Congress and in governor’s races on Tuesday night as they regained control of Capitol Hill and the legislative agenda for the first time since 2006 when George W Bush was in the White House.

在週二舉行的國會議員和州長選舉中勝出的共和黨候選人遠遠多於民主黨對手。自2006年——當時白宮主人是小布什(George W Bush)——以來，共和黨首次奪回國會山和立法議程的控制權。

In a repudiation of Mr Obama at the start of his final two years in office, the Republicans are set to gain nine seats in the 100-member Senate, which would give the new majority leader, Kentucky senator Mitch McConnell, a reasonable 54-46 cushion in the chamber, although legislation usually needs 60 votes.

奧巴馬總統任期進入最後兩年之際，選民對他的不滿大爆發，導致共和黨在總共100個席位的參議院(Senate)新增9席，這意味着新任多數黨領袖、肯塔基州參議員米奇•麥康奈爾(Mitch McConnell，上圖爲麥康奈爾與其華裔妻子、前美國勞工部長趙小蘭)將在參議院擁有54席對46席的適度優勢，儘管通過立法通常需要60票。

The party is also on track to increase its majority in the House of Representatives to the largest since 1928, after a night which gave the party a sharp psychological boost after sweeping defeats in the past two presidential elections.

共和黨在衆議院(House of Representatives)的多數優勢也將升至自1928年以來最懸殊的程度。在連續兩屆總統選舉全線落敗後，共和黨從本次中期選舉中得到極大的心理提振。

The new Republican-dominated Congress is expected to back Mr Obama on a key policy area for which he has not been able to attract sufficient Democratic support – international trade. He is seeking congressional authority for a stronger hand in trade negotiations with Asia-Pacific countries and Europe.

預計共和黨主導的國會將在一個關鍵政策領域支持奧巴馬，那就是國際貿易；奧巴馬在這個領域一直未能爭取到自己所在的民主黨的充分支持。他正尋求得到國會授權，以便更有效地與亞太國家和歐洲展開貿易談判。

“Most of my members think that America’s a winner in international trade,” Mr McConnell said. “The president hasn’t sent us a single trade bill in six years. I hope he’ll do that.”

“我黨的多數成員認爲，美國在國際貿易中是一個贏家。”麥康奈爾表示，“6年來，總統連一份貿易法案也拿不出來。我希望他能拿出一份來。”

Mr Obama and Congress could also work together on infrastructure spending, business tax reform, cyber security and reforms to sentencing to keep people out of jail for misdemeanours, White House officials said. But the Republicans have a much larger deregulatory agenda which they believe they can sell as good for economic growth and job creation, and which they believe will also split the Democratic base.

白宮官員表示，奧巴馬和國會還可能合作的領域包括：基礎設施支出，營業稅改革，網絡安全，以及旨在讓被判犯有輕罪的人無需入獄服刑的量刑改革。但是，共和黨方面有一個規模大得多的放松管制議程，他們相信，他們能將這項議程定性爲有利於經濟增長和創造就業，並認爲該議程將分化民主黨的支持根基。

The Republicans moved quickly to tie the result not just to an unpopular president but also Hillary Clinton, the likely Democratic 2016 candidate, who campaigned heavily in the lead-up to Tuesday’s vote. “It was a direct rejection of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton’s policies,” said Reince Priebus, the chair of the Republican National Committee.

除了把選舉結果與支持率低迷的總統聯繫起來外，共和黨方面還很快把2016年可能成爲民主黨總統競選人的希拉里•克林頓(Hillary Clinton)扯了進來。“這是對巴拉克•奧巴馬和希拉里•克林頓政策的一個直接拒絕，”共和黨全國委員會主席雷恩斯•普利巴斯(Reince Priebus)表示。週二投票之前，希拉里大力參與了中期選舉的造勢活動。

Republicans and a sizeable number of Democrats will support approval for the Keystone XL pipeline to carry crude from Canada across the US. It has been held up on environmental objections. A bipartisan majority in both houses could also back a speedy repeal of the tax on medical devices, which was included in Mr Obama’s health legislation to fund reform of the sector. But Republicans face challenges of their own, with an influx of Tea Party-tinged senators potentially demanding more radical changes, such as repealing Mr Obama’s health law altogether.

共和黨以及數量可觀的民主黨議員將會贊成批准從加拿大向美國運輸原油的Keystone XL管道項目。該項目由於環保方面的反對意見而被擱置。參衆兩院的兩黨多數還可能支持及早廢止針對醫療器材的稅收；奧巴馬的醫改立法包含該稅種，目的是資助醫保改革。但是，共和黨本身也面臨挑戰，新當選的一批茶黨(Tea Party)色彩的參議員可能會要求更爲激進的變革，包括徹底廢除奧巴馬的醫改法。

Mr McConnell has made it clear that the Republicans must prove they can govern with their new majority and has warned against unnecessary confrontation with the White House.

麥康奈爾明確表示，共和黨人必須證明自己能夠以新獲得的多數席位治國。他警告稱，不要與白宮進行不必要的對抗。