They control the purse strings.

他們掌控了預算

But for the past four months,

但是過去的四個月中

Congress has been in a perpetual shutdown watch over couple basic issues.

國會因為幾個議題而陷入了停擺的危機

Immigration,

移民

whether to fund long-standing programs,

是否要為長期計畫提供資金

like the children's health insurance program,

例如孩童健康保險計劃

and how to pay for all these natural disasters we saw in 2017.

還有要如何付清 2017 年發生的天然災害損失

Basically, Senate Democrats are saying,

基本上，參議院民主黨員表示：

"We're not giving you votes for the spending bills,

「我們不會同意你的預算案，

until you increase disaster aids for Porto Rico in the US virgin islands."

除非你增加對美屬維京群島上的波多黎各的災難救助。」

The thing that makes funding a government so difficult for congress

國會提供預算給政府會這麼困難的原因

is you basically have to do it with bi-partisan votes.

是因為你必須得到兩黨的選票支持

So that means whatever party's in power,

這表示不管是哪一黨執政

needs the other party to cooperate.

都需要另一黨來配合

That also means that the other party gets to put its foot down and say,

這也表示在野黨可以堅定立場，說：

"No, I'm not gonna give you votes unless you give me X, Y, and Z."

「不，我不會同意你的預算案，除非你同意 X、Y和 Z。」

That puts both parties in really tough positions, right?

這讓兩黨都陷入艱難的處境，對吧？

Republicans can decide to either compromise,

共和黨員可以決定妥協

or risk getting blamed for a government shutdown happening on their watch.

或是承擔政府在他們任內停擺的風險

Democrats could get a chance to extract some big policy victories,

民主黨員則有機會在幾項政策上獲得進展

like on immigration, and government spending.

例如移民，或是政府支出

But they also might be seen as obstructionists.

但他們也可能被視為在故意唱反調

So Congress's fallback is to pass a short-term spending bill.

所以國會的折衷方案是通過一個短期的預算案

And experts say that's probably what will happen

專家也說這是最可能的結果

if Congress can't come to agreement on these big issues in the next couple weeks.

如果國會不能在未來的幾週內，在這幾個大議題上達成共識

But there's a complicating factor here,

但這裡有個複雜的變數

and that's President Trump.

也就是川普總統

He has been really really hardline on getting money for his wall.

他相當堅持要為他的牆取得預算

Not a fence, not more border security.

不是柵欄，不是更安全的邊境維安

a wall on the US Mexico border.

是一道蓋在美墨邊境上的牆

That's something Democrat absolutely won't do.

民主黨員絕對不會同意這麼做的

So, you know, Congress passes the budget.

所以，國會通過預算

The president is the one who signs it into law.

總統還要簽署，讓它生效

Never say never with President Trump.

川普總統有著無限可能

It's quite possible he vetos even a short-term spending bill,

他很有可能連短期預算案都要否決

to try to get Congress to do something on his wall.

藉以讓國會同意建造他的牆

Passing these short-term spending bills month after month

月覆一月的通過這些短期預算案

makes it really difficult for the government to function.

讓政府難以運作

But things could get a lot worst if Congress can't pass any spending bill and it shuts down.

但是如果國會無法通過任何預算案而停擺，情況將會更加糟糕

We saw that happen in 2013.

2013 年就發生過一次

And if it shuts down for couple days,

如果政府停擺了幾天

basically, anyone who wants to go to a national park, national museums.

基本上，任何想要去國家公園，國家博物館的人

like all the ones here along the mall in D.C.,

例如在華盛頓 D.C. 的國家廣場周圍的那些

can't.

都不能去了

Those are closed off.

他們都關閉了

But the longer shutdown goes,

但是停擺得越久

the more it filters into your and I (my) everyday lives.

它就更加影響你我的日常生活

People who want a passport or visa, may not be able to get one in time.

想要拿到護照或是簽證的民眾，可能無法如期取得

Anything that relies on money from the federal government,

任何倚靠聯邦政府預算的東西

is kind of stuck in the mud right now, and has been.

現在都已陷入了泥沼

The whole thing is just a disaster for the economy,

這對經濟是場大災難

and it also doesn't help US on a global stage, right?

這對於美國在國際上的地位也沒有幫助，對吧？

Appear like we have our act together, if we can't keep our government open.

如果我們都無法維持政府運作，怎麼會是個有效率的國家呢？

What usually happens is Congress comes right up to the deadline,

通常的情況是國會壓在死線之前，

and then passes a short-term spending bill,

然後通過一個短期的預算案

that just funds the government at last year's levels for a couple more month,

以去年的水準來給政府多幾個月的預算

while they buy themselves more negotiating time.

同時讓自己多一點協商的時間

Basically, this is not the way the government was set up to run,

基本上，政府不該是這樣運作的

kicking the can down the road every couple months.

不該每隔幾個月就拖延預算案的通過