State Leaders Hopeful of Immigration Aid : Budget: Governor’s plea for federal reimbursement of costs is finding support amid national attention to the issue. Still, timing and shortage of funds are major obstacles.

With more states joining the battle and less partisan finger-pointing, California may have the best chance in years to get a sympathetic hearing for its plea for federal aid to offset the costs of illegal immigration, Administration and congressional sources say.

Gov. Pete Wilson last week unveiled a state budget built on an assumption that about $2.3 billion in federal reimbursements could be found in the U.S. treasury.

Although no one expects California to get that much money, and certainly not in time to solve the state’s budget problems, state and federal officeholders are mildly optimistic that the White House will try to find some way to address the state’s concerns.

Despite many obstacles, the political pressure to lift California out of its economic doldrums and the Clinton Administration’s sensitivity to the illegal immigration issue have created a more receptive atmosphere here.

“The President is very interested in helping California, and the delegation is united. With other states joining in the battle, we’re really picking up steam,” said Rep. Don Edwards (D-San Jose).

But there are practical reasons why any federal response won’t come in time to mend the hole in Wilson’s budget. The state Constitution requires the Legislature to pass the budget by June 15. Congressional appropriation committees generally do not approve spending bills until later in the summer.

In the past, California has had limited success persuading Congress and the White House to part with money for what was viewed as a regional predicament. But with other big states crying for similar aid, the issue has taken on a more national scope.

Florida has announced that it will sue the federal government over immigration costs, and governors from New York, Arizona, New Jersey, Texas and Illinois have also joined the quest for federal reimbursements.

Wilson, who said the state may join the Florida lawsuit, is counting on this widening of support to blunt criticism that California alone is seeking an enormous federal bailout.

“This has become a nonpartisan issue with a large segment of the population affected by unfunded federal mandates,” said Beth Miller, a Wilson spokeswoman specializing in the immigration issue. “We hope that Clinton remembers his governor’s roots.”

Also fueling the restrained optimism over the issue is a relative lack of partisan back-biting--at least so far. Last year at this time, Wilson was seeking $1.4 billion in immigration funds from Washington, but the political dialogue was more barbed. Democratic Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer took Wilson to task for blaming the Democratic Congress for not supplying the funds. The state eventually received $324 million.

Wilson’s budgetary tactic this year again puts pressure on Clinton and Congress to respond, but so far the rhetoric has been restrained. Wilson has gone out of his way not to criticize Clinton on the issue.

Administration officials emphasize that California’s demands will be extremely difficult to meet, but with other states--some with powerful Democratic governors--broadening the issue geographically, Clinton could help California without seeming to single it out.

“The prospects for some type of aid are brighter this year than they’ve ever been,” said Frank Collins, senior aide to San Diego Rep. Randy (Duke) Cunningham. “On a scale of one to 10, it’s a four, not the usual zero.”

Feinstein on Tuesday sent President Clinton a three-page letter, urging increased budget requests for a variety of immigration-related programs.

“The federal government mandates that the states absorb the costs of providing services to illegal immigrants,” Feinstein wrote. “Clearly, the state can’t do it. I’m going to lead the fight on behalf of the congressional delegation to right this wrong.”

The delegation has not yet mapped out a precise legislative strategy. But the members appear committed to keeping the pressure on the Administration to deliver some kind of aid.

Any inclination to help California will have to overcome the stark reality of the federal government’s finances.

On the eve of his budget address last week, Wilson called Leon E. Panetta, Clinton’s budget director--and former California congressman--to alert the White House to the call for billions in federal reimbursements.

“Panetta certainly expressed sympathy with the problem, but he also pointed out the severe budget restrictions facing Congress,” said Barry Toiv, a spokesman for the Office of Management and Budget. “There’s a lot more sympathy (on the immigration issue), but the dollars are very tight.”

Panetta told Wilson he wanted to meet with governors from all the states who are facing similar immigration problems when they come back for a National Governors Assn. meeting later this month. “But frankly it’s a difficult issue that the Congress will ultimately have to decide,” Toiv said.

An Administration source conceded that the issue “will not go unresponded to” but said it will take some imaginative legislative maneuvers to get around severe budget restraints.