美國國會權力平衡狀態維持不變
While a few congressional seats changed hands in U.S. elections Tuesday, the balance of power in Congress remains the same, with Democrats in control of the Senate, and Republicans keeping their majority in the House of Representatives.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said now that the election is over, it is time to put politics aside and find solutions and compromise to the problems facing the country.
Speaking to reporters on Capitol Hill Wednesday, House Speaker John Boehner congratulated President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden on their reelection victory. But he warned that urgent action is needed with the country's looming "fiscal cliff" -- $600 billion in automatic tax increases and spending cuts that are set to take effect January 1.
Boehner said the American people, who have elected Republicans to lead the House, have spoken and given politicians a mandate to work together.
In the Senate, Democrats took a number of key Senate races and will keep their slim majority. They will have 53 seats, while Republicans will have 45 seats. Independents will have two spots in the 100-member chamber.
With nearly all the House races called, projections indicate little will change in the 435-seat chamber. Republicans have 233 seats, while Democrats so far have won 192. Boehner will retain his post.
Polls have shown many Americans have been frustrated by what they see as rampant politicking and animosity, while seeing little improvement in their day-to-day lives. But their views of lawmakers appeared to improve in the weeks preceding Tuesday's election.星期二選舉過後，美國國會席位的變動很小，國會的權力分配格局基本不變。民主黨仍然控制參議院，共和黨則繼續保持在衆議院的多數地位。
參議院多數黨領袖裏德說，選舉已經結束，現在到了把政治分歧放在一邊，爲國家面臨的問題尋找解決方案和妥協意見的時候了。
星期三，衆議院議長貝納在國會山對記者說，他祝賀奧巴馬總統和拜登副總統獲選連任。但貝納警告說，目前的當務之急是解決美國的“財政懸崖”問題。6000億美元自動增稅和削減開支的方案將在明年1月1號開始生效。
貝納說，選擇共和黨來領導衆議院的美國人民表明了態度，委任政界人士齊心協力解決問題。
在參議員選舉中，民主黨在一些關鍵州取勝，將保持該黨的微弱多數地位。民主黨將佔有53個席位，共和黨佔有45個席位。獨立人士將在100個席位的參議院中佔有兩個席位。
目前的選舉預測顯示，衆議院435個席位基本沒有變化。共和黨擁有233個席位，民主黨到目前爲止贏得192個席位。貝納將繼續擔任衆議院議長職務。
民調結果顯示，很多美國人看到自己的日常生活幾乎沒有任何改善，同時政治動作和敵對狀態則觸目皆是，他們對此感到不滿。但在星期二大選前的幾個星期裏，他們對國會議員們的看法似乎有所改善。
