书城课外英语-美国各州小知识(六)(双语版)
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第20章 密歇根州(2)

The 1970s brought another recession nationwide to the economy.With an increase in international markets,the automobile industry slumped[(物价)暴跌].By 1980,Michigan had the highest unemployment rate in the nation.Gratefully,automotive sales increased in 1984that reduced the state unemployment.

Today Michigan leaders are looking for ways to attract new industries to the state.Tourism has increased and some computer-related businesses are moving into the state.

Governor州长

Jennifer M.Granholm在2002年11月被选举为密歇根州州长。自上任以来,她成功的解决了超过40亿美元的财政赤字。Granholm州长确保州政府合理有效地使用开支,同时也努力追求她制定的目标:增长密歇根经济和保障人们高质量的生活水平。

Jennifer M.Granholm was elected the 47th governor of the State of Michigan in November 2002.Since taking office,she has successfully resolved over4billion dollars in budget deficits,trimming(修整)more from state government than any governor in Michigan’s history.A fiscal hawk,Granholm has worked to ensure that state government spends every penny efficiently,while aggressively(有闯劲地)pursuing her top priorities:growing Michigan’s economy and maintaining the state’s high quality of life.

Granholm has focused on improving Michigan’s economy through a comprehensive Jobs Today,Jobs Tomorrow plan.Her economic agenda includes creating thousands of jobs for Michigan workers this year by accelerating(加速,促进)infrastructure projects,training unemployed workers for high-demand jobs and diversifying(使多样化)Michigan’s economy through an unprecedented(空前的)2billion dollar Jobs for Michigan Fund.Granholm has also reduced the red tape businesses face when seeking permits from the state.

And she’s gotten results.Michigan continues to attract new business,with small firms growing by 2,400in 2004.Seven companies opened new headquarters here last year and direct action by the state helped create or retain(保留)130,000jobs.New business growth in 2005shows great promise,and includes Toyota Motor Corporation’s plans to invest 150million in a new,state-of-the-art research and development facility in York Township,which will create more than 670new jobs for Michigan.

Michigan was cited by Governing magazine(February 2005)as an outstanding(突出的,显著的)leader in its Government Performance Project(GPP)report titled,“Grading the States 2005”.The nationwide report card gives Michigan and the Granholm administration high marks in the areas of money,people,infrastructure(基础下部组织)and information management.Only Virginia and Utah scored higher than Michigan.

Granholm’s focus on families has meant expanded health care coverage for 300,000uninsured(未保险的)Michiganians through new federally-qualified health care centers in Jackson and Detroit.Granholm saved the state nearly40million in 2003when she introduced the nation’s first bulk-buying pool for prescription drugs;and in 2004,she extended those savings to citizens by introducing the MiRx Card,which provides discount(折扣)prescription drugs to uninsured families.Since 2003,Granholm has also enrolled(登记,入学)nearly 50,000additional children for health insurance through the Healthy Kids and MiCHILD programs.

Despite tough fiscal times,Granholm has increased spending for Michigan’s public schools.In 2005,for the first time,classrooms in Michigan received record funding at levels promised by the previous administration.The first in her family to attend college,Granholm has championed universal access([美]普及高等教育)to higher education.She successfully challenged state universities to hold the line on tuition increases and has proposed a first-in-the-nation program that would award 4,000to every Michigan student who completes two years of post-secondary education.

Granholm began her career in public service as a clerk for U.S.Judge Damon Keith on the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals.She considers Judge Keith a mentor to this day.In 1990,Granholm became a federal prosecutor(检举人)in Detroit,where she maintained a 98percent conviction rate.In 1994,Granholm was appointed Wayne County Corporation Counsel.She worked to reduce taxpayer-funded lawsuit payouts(支出)by 87percent.

Elected Michigan’s first female Attorney General in 1998,Granholm continued her fight to protect Michigan’s citizens and consumers.She established the state’s first High Tech Crime Unit to prosecute(告发,起诉)Internet crimes.Following the September 11th attacks on the United States,Granholm led a multi-agency effort to ensure that Michigan laws could effectively be used to fight terrorism(恐怖主义)at the state level.In the wake of the attacks,she also cracked down on gas stations gouging consumers at the pump.As Attorney General,Granholm also started a successful statewide mentoring initiative.

Granholm was elected by the people of Michigan to serve as their first woman chief executive(〈美〉美国总统,共和国总统,(美国的)州长,市长)on November 6,2002.

Born in Vancouver,British Columbia,Granholm is an honors graduate of both the University of California at Berkeley and Harvard Law School.She serves as Vice Chair of the Democratic(民主的)Governors Association and Chair of the National Governor’s Association Health and Human Services Committee.She and her husband,Daniel G.Mulhern,have three children.

State Bird州鸟

在奥特朋协会将知更鸟作为密歇根州州鸟后,密歇根立法机关正式确定此鸟作为本州州鸟。此鸟获得了200,000的得票支持率。立法者称知更鸟为“密歇根州所有鸟中最有名且被人们最喜爱的鸟”。

After the robin was favored in a Michigan Audubon Society contest to choose a state bird,the Michigan legislature made it official.Proclaiming the poll in which 200,000votes were cast“widely and generally conducted”,House Concurrent Resolution 30of 1931designated the robin as Michigan’s state bird.Legislators called the robin“the best known and best loved of all the birds in the State of Michigan”.

Familiar in the summertime(夏,夏季)throughout North America,the American Robin is seen from Alaska to Virginia.Most people do not know that many Robins spend the entire winter in New England.They roost(栖息,安歇)among the evergreens in the swamps where they feed on winter berries.

The following is identification:

1.8.5inches length

2.Black to dark gray head