【英语国际】美国金融改革方案获众议院通过 待参议院批准

The House agreed Wednesday to a sweeping rewrite of the nation's financial regulations, moving the initiative one step closer to becoming law.

Focus now shifts to the Senate, where questions linger about whether Democrats have nailed down enough support from the handful of Republicans needed to overcome a likely filibuster. The Senate won't take up the bill until after the July 4 recess, creating an awkward pause in which the bill's opponents will have one last chance to derail it.

The legislation was approved 237-192 after a sharp debate that highlighted partisan tensions on Capitol Hill. Ultimately, 19 Democrats joined most Republicans in opposition, while three Republican broke ranks to support the bill, which beefs up the powers of federal regulators and puts a tight leash on large U.S. banks. No House Republicans supported the bill when it was first brought to the floor last year.

The legislation is a pillar of President Barack Obama's first-term agenda and could be the last major bill enacted before November's midterm elections.

Some Republicans started to make conciliatory noises after Democrats on Wednesday removed from the bill a tax designed to cover potential future costs of unwinding insolvent firms. Notably, Republican Maine Sen. Susan Collins, author of a provision requiring higher reserves at the nation's largest banks, said she was 'inclined to support' the legislation. Other key Republicans remain undeclared.

Democrats had hoped to send the legislation to the White House this week. A Senate vote isn't expected now until mid-July, a delay prompted in large part by the death of Sen. Robert Byrd (D., W.Va.).

If the Senate approves the bill when lawmakers return from the July 4 recess, it is expected to be quickly signed into law by Mr. Obama.

With the Senate out of session next week, the danger for Democratic leaders is that wavering members may come under new pressure from critics and could find new reasons to oppose the bill or seek additional changes.

'Every prima donna gets to say, 'I want to change this,' ' said Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D., Ill.).

Ed Yingling, chief executive of the American Bankers Association trade group, said bankers would use the weeklong recess to urge senators to oppose the bill, with a special emphasis on Republicans whose votes are thought to be still up for grabs.

Democrats control the Senate with 59 seats, reduced temporarily to 58 since the death of Mr. Byrd. One Democrat, Sen. Russell Feingold of Wisconsin, has declared his opposition to the final bill, saying it doesn't go far enough to crack down on Wall Street. Another Democrat, Washington Sen. Maria Cantwell, said Wednesday she remain undecided.

If both break ranks, Democrats must secure the support of three Republicans, which is why the endorsement from Ms. Collins was significant.

美国众议院周三通过了一项全国金融监管改革议案，使这项提案成为法律的可能性更进了一步。

目前关注重点转向参议院，问题仍旧是民主党人是否已从几个共和党成员处取得足够支持，以便克服可能产生的阻挠。 参议院在7月4日暂时休会前不会就这项议案进行表决，因而出现了一个棘手的空当期，反对者将有最后的机会来阻碍该议案的通过。

经过激烈的争辩，这项议案在国会山以237票支持192票反对得以通过，彰显出党派之争的紧张性。最终，19名民主党人与大多数共和党表示反对，而三名共和党人也加入到民主党成员行列支持这项加强联邦监管并对美国大型银行进行严格控制的议案。去年该议案刚刚出台时，众议院中没有共和党人支持这项议案。

这项法案是总统奥巴马(Barack Obama)首届任期议事日程的核心事宜，也可能是11月中期选举前最后一项重大议案。

周三民主党人从议案中删除了一项征税条款，部分共和党开始发出和解之声。该税项是用于支付未来对破产公司进行解散可能产生的成本。最明显的是，共和党人缅因州参议员柯林斯(Susan Collins)说她倾向于支持这项立法。柯林斯是要求美国最大规模的银行增加储备金条款的作者。其他关键共和党成员仍未表明态度。

民主党人原本希望在本周将该法案提交白宫。而目前预计参议院在7月中旬前不会就该法案进行投票，出现这一拖延在很大程度上是因西弗吉尼亚参议员伯德(Robert Byrd)去世造成的。

如果参议院在7月4日暂时休会结束后批准了该议案，则会由奥巴马迅速签发成为法律。

下周参议院休会，民主党领袖们面临的危险是，那些摇摆不定的参议员们可能会屈从于评论家们的新压力，再度找出反对该议案或再次寻求修改的理由。

伊利诺伊州众议员古塔雷斯(Luis Gutierrez)说，任何一个自以为是的人都会说，这要改一改。

行业组织美国银行家协会(American Bankers Association) 主席英林(Edward Yingling)说，银行家们会利用这一周的休会期间力劝参议员们反对这项议案，重点将是那些仍被视为较易争取的共和党参议员们。

民主党控制了参议院中59个议席，在民主党成员伯德去世后，暂时仅有58个席位。民主党成员威斯康辛州的法因戈尔德(Russell Feingold)参议员已宣布反对这项最终议案，他说，这项议案远远不能打击华尔街。另一位民主党人士，华盛顿州的肯特威尔(Maria Cantwell)周三说，她尚未做出决定。

如果这两人均持反对态度的话，民主党必须确保获得三名共和党成员的支持，这也是柯林斯表示赞成极为重要的原因。