INITIATIVEN & VORSTÖSSE  

Ausschüsse/Parteien/Politiker setzen sich für/regen verschiedene Vorhaben/Projekte/den Kandidaten ein = the social reform committee is making/building/setting out a public case for affordable housing; both major parties are throwing their weight/support behind the cause/the candidate; the minister is rallying/gathering/shoring up support to win converts; the transport ministry is

spearheading an initiative to upgrade the country’s freeway system 

Was hat die Regierung in Sachen Klimaveränderung vor bzw, wie können die daraus entstandenen Vorteile zur Geltung kommen? =  What is the government up to on the climate change front, what is its/their endgame? 

die Politik ist/steht in der Pflicht = government has/politicians have to deliver soon; right now the ball is in the politicians’ court

der Regierung/den Politikern obliegt rechtzeitig wichtige Entscheidungen zu treffen/richtig zu handeln = it’s incumbent on the politicians/the government to make key decisions in a timely fashion/to get their/its act together

Politik/Privatwirtschaft steht Pate beim Thema Klimawechsel = the green party is mustering passion for a challenging environmental venture; many politicians actively champion/stick up for/advance the cause of climate change; a few large corporations are lending their support to/voicing their sympathy for some key environmental initiatives 

die Partei sollte nicht all zu oft junge Mitglieder, die mit guten Ideen aufwarten, ausbremsen = the party shouldn’t slap down all too often /hold the line on/hit the brakes on/blunt the momentum of their junior members, who come up with good ideas/propositions 

innerhalb der Partei gewinnen junge Abgeordnete an Einfluss = young MP’s/House reps. have managed to bolster their clout/strengthen their influence within the party ranks 

einige Politiker setzen sich für ein Grundeinkommen ein = some politicians are pushing for a universal basic income for all citizens Koalitionspartner würde es (d.h. den Vorstoß) mittragen  = coalition partner would go along with that (i.e. the proposition) 

Wer ist dafür? = “put your hand up if you support the proposition/move”

einige MdB’s sagen einfach lustlos “ja” zu manchen Maßnahmen = a few Congressmen say “yes” with no particular enthusiasm for the move; the MP just tagged/went along for the ride

die vom Vize-Kanzler vorgeschlagene Maßnahme wirft noch Fragen auf  = the move/action by the Deputy Prime Minister was still subject to question

“auf 16 senken”: einige MdB’s schließen sich dem Vorstoß zur Senkung des Wahlalters an = “make it 16”: some MP’s join push to lower voting age

Regierung verharrt auf ihrem Standpunkt = the government won’t budge on its/their position/is still standing pat on the vexed issue 

Bund hat Vorschlag der Opposition gekippt/ausgehebelt = the proposal of the opposition parties was left out to dry/swinging in the breeze

die Medien bauschen das Dilemma der Asylsuchenden auf = the media is beating the asylum-seekers dilemma out of proportion

“mehr Verhältnismäßigkeit”, heißt es in den Medien   = media outlets call for “some perspective, please”; the problem has to be put into perspective

Regierungsvorgehen in Migrantenangelegenheiten kommt nicht gut an = current racial/immigration policies wrought/pursued by the government are the wrong approach/don't go over very well; the government's proposal met with a mixed reaction by the media/received little support from migration experts  

Politiker verfolgen Salamitaktik = some politicians use the strategy of drip-feeding their constituents on thorny issues; other politicians take the tack of piecemeal/incremental approaches to inform the public; being low-key about hot-button/hot-potato issues is part of the script/ approach   

Opposition fühlt sich überrumpelt von neuem Regierungsvorschlag zur Bekämpfung der Umweltverschmutzung = with a new agenda on pollution the Government blindsided/threw (or knocked) the opposition for a loop 

Regierung beschließt aus Rüstungsvertrag auszusteigen, Opposition möchte aber der Sache auf den Grund gehen  =  opposition wants to launch an inquiry into the cancellation of a large military contract/deal  

öffentliche Unterstützung für das Vorhaben verstummt allmählich = public support on/for the issue is ebbing away/waning/dwindling

Bundeskanzler ist gegen Steuersenkung  = the PM poured cold water on/discarded the idea/proposition of cutting taxes

Grüne erleiden herben Rückschlag = the move to postpone the decommissioning of nuclear plants was kryptonite/was a curveball/a heavy blow to the Greens

Wiederstand gegen die Kernkraft gehört zur Gründungs-DNA der Grünen = from the outset resistance against nuclear power has always been a Green’s staple/basic policy

abtrünniger MP weicht von seiner ultrakonservativen Position nicht ab = the rebel MP/Congressman dug in and refused to move on his anti-conservative stance/posture

Bundeskanzler mahnt Koalitionspartner, nicht eigenständig zu handeln  = the prime minister urged/called on/exhorted their junior coalition partners not to focus single-handedly on issues that were not mutually agreed upon 

Regierungspartei beschwört Zusammenhalt und fordert Koalitionspartner auf, Parteilichkeit zu vermeiden = ruling party calls for/hails/ shouts unity and tells junior party says to put partisanship aside     

flammende Rede des Präsidenten gegen Lockerung der Sicherheitsmaßnahmen findet wenig Beifall im Bundestag = by rejecting the move to relax security guidelines the president’s landmark/blistering/scorching/incendiary/defiant speech touched/hit a (raw) nerve with many congressmen;  his speech wasn’t exactly met with cheers by the opposing parties   

die Ansprache des Präsidenten war ein Quotenerfolg = the president’s message proved a ratings hit