美國國會爲卸任總統的預算設限

BBC News – On Friday the US congress voted to place limits on expense accounts allotted to former presidents. These accounts cover travel, staff and office costs. The new bill caps spending at $200,000 and reduces it further if the former president has made over $400,000 in a year.

BBC新聞 – 週五，美國國會投票，爲分配給卸任總統的費用賬戶設限。這些賬戶包括旅行成本，員工成本和辦公成本。新議案設支出上限爲20萬美元，並且，如果卸任總統一年賺取超過40萬美元，將進一步降低支出上限。

The bill's authors said most ex-presidents did not need support from taxpayers since they make millions in book deals and speaking fees. "Upon leaving office, most presidents go on to make millions of dollars and are not in need of taxpayer subsidies," said the authors of the bill, Representative Elijah Cummings of Maryland and Representative Jason Chaffetz of Utah, in a joint statement.

議案撰寫人說，大多數卸任總統並不需要納稅人的贍養，因爲他們從出書交易和演講費中賺取數百萬美元。“離任後，大多數總統繼續能賺得數百萬美元，不需要納稅人的補貼。”議案撰寫人，馬里蘭州的衆議員卡明斯和猶他州的衆議員查夫茲發表聯合聲明說。

In 2014 US taxpayers covered $3.5m in expenses for the four living US presidents. This included $1.3m for George W. Bush and $950,000 for Bill Clinton both of which were mostly for office costs.

2014年，美國納稅人爲4位在世的美國總統支付了350萬美元費用。這包括爲小布什支付的130萬美元和爲比爾.克林頓支付的95萬美元，兩者中大部分都是辦公費用。

Under the new plan, that allowance would be cut by a dollar for every dollar of outside income above $400,000. The changes do not affect costs for security.

根據新計劃，對超過40萬美元的俸外收入每一美元都會相應削減一美元的補貼。這些變化不影響安保費用。

The bill also sets pensions for presidents at $200,000 a year and $100,000 for spouses if they outlive the former president.

議案還規定總統的養老金爲每年20萬美元，如果卸任總統去世，其在世配偶的養老金爲每年10萬美元。

The bill cleared a voice vote in the House of Representatives and has been sent to President Obama to sign.

該議案在衆議院獲口頭表決通過，已送交奧巴馬總統簽署。