New faces, old problems: US governors

https://espresso.economist.com/035eb76e8e1199879473db82502d31dc
Jan 14th 2019

New faces, old problems: US governors

New governors assume office today in four states.

Democrats replace Republicans in Illinois, where J.B. Pritzker enters the governor’s mansion, and in Kansas, where Laura Kelly takes charge.

• take charge 负责

Each faces hefty fiscal challenges.

• hefty 大而重的；很大的；超出一般的；可观的
• fiscal 财政的；国库的

Illinois’s economy is plodding and heavily taxed—yet Mr Pritzker needs to cut enormous debts, notably a $130bn unfunded liability for public pensions.

• plodding 沉重缓慢的；单调乏味的；行动沉重缓慢的
• notably 特别；非常；尤其；极大程度上

At least he will work with a Democratic supermajority in the assembly.

• supermajority 绝对多数；超级多数；绝对多数决议条款
• assembly 议会；集合

Ms Kelly must corral a Republican-controlled legislature as she tries to undo the effects of a disastrous low-tax experiment by a predecessor.

• corral 把（一群人）集中起来关在一起to gather a group of people together and keep them in a particular place

Elsewhere Republicans retain office, albeit with new faces.

• albeit 尽管；虽然

In Ohio a moderate figure, Mike DeWine, enters the governor’s mansion.

In Georgia, Brian Kemp is to preside over a population starkly divided and embittered after last year’s election.

• preside over 主持会议

He was accused of misusing his position as secretary of state to suppress voters likely to support his opponent in the governor’s race.

Hardly an auspicious start.

• auspicious 吉利的; 有前途的; 有希望的; 有利的;