Quake Financing--Let’s Get Real : The political fact is this: Everyone has to chip in

Extraordinary times require uncommon sacrifices--from ordinary citizens and from their government. But even as James Lee Witt, the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, was projecting this week that the Northridge earthquake would be the costliest natural disaster ever in the United States, some elected representatives, even in our own state, questioned the need for substantial federal and state earthquake assistance. Let’s get real, folks.

If not everyone is getting with the program, don’t blame the Clinton Administration. It is hard to imagine a more alert response from the White House, which on Tuesday announced a $6.6-billion aid package atop the nearly $900 million that it already had committed.

However, there are those like Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Huntington Beach). Last week he and 13 other Republican members of the California congressional delegation declined to sign a letter to President Clinton in which the delegation urged him to seek emergency aid. Rohrabacher was concerned about “off-budget” emergency aid but also held back to engage in more immigrant bashing, suggesting that the supplemental aid bill should be amended to prohibit disaster assistance to illegal immigrants. There are far more constructive ways to deal with immigration problems, and the state needs federal earthquake relief now.

At the state level, some members of Orange County’s delegation remain stubbornly opposed to proposals that require Californians to help themselves. Other than a willingness to consider a bond measure--which surely would be more expensive in the long run--there was strong sentiment against any talk of what we might have to do as a state to show that we’re willing to pay at least part of our way--whether through a temporary state gasoline tax increase or whatever. This is not politically mature. It’s clear that Californians will have to contribute something one way or another. We can’t just go to Washington with hat in hand.

Reality-denying members of the congressional delegation have to remember that one purpose of national government is to help beleaguered localities in times of overwhelming crisis. This is certainly one of those times.