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States Put Pressure on Public Unions 美国各州试图限制工会权力引发大规模示威 This is the VOA Special English Economics Report. 这里是美国之音慢速英语经济报道。 Americans have been watching the protests in the Middle East and North Africa -- and closer to home. Workers in Wisconsin, and now some other states, have been protesting efforts to limit the negotiating power of government employees. 美国人一直在密切关注着中东和北非的抗议活动--而现在抗议活动烧到了家门口。威斯康星州和其他几个州的工人正在抗议限制政府职员谈判力的措施。 Wisconsins newly elected governor, Scott Walker, says limits are needed on labor unions to help cut a deficit in the state budget. The Republican governor proposes to end collective bargaining rights for most public employees except on the issue of wages. 威斯康星州新任州长斯科特·沃克（Scott Walker）表示，必须限制工会权力以帮助削减州政府预算赤字。这位来自共和党的州长提议，终止大部分公职人员工资问题以外的集体谈判权。 The bill has led to big, noisy demonstrations that began earlier this month in Madison, the state capital. 这项议案导致了本月初在州首府麦迪逊开始的大规模抗议活动。 PROTESTERS: This is what democracy looks like! 抗议人群：“这就是民主的真实嘴脸！” The bill would not affect police or firefighters. They are barred from striking. But firefighter Mahlon Mitchell came to protest anyway. 该议案将不会影响警察或消防队员。他们被禁止参加罢工。但消防队员马伦·米切尔（Mahlon Mitchell）最终还是前来参加了抗议。 MAHLON MITCHELL: This is ground zero for the nation. 马伦米切尔：“这是美联邦的归零地。” Democrats in the state Senate fled to the neighboring Midwestern state of Illinois. They want to prevent the Republican majority in the Wisconsin Legislature from passing the bill which they consider anti-union. Labor unions are a traditional base of support for the Democratic Party. 该州民主党参议员躲到了邻近的伊利诺伊州。他们试图阻止威斯康星州议会多数派共和党人通过这一被他们认为是反工会的议案。工会是民主党的传统支持阵营。 Governor Walker says the state could have to start dismissing workers unless the Democrats return to debate what he calls a budget repair bill. 州长沃克表示，如果民主党人不回来讨论他所谓的修复财政议案，该州可能不得不开始裁员。 Dennis Dresang is professor emeritus of political science at the University of Wisconsin. He says the modern history of the state helps explain the strong reaction. Dennis Dresang威斯康星大学政治学名誉教授。他表示，该州的现代史