
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, February 21, 1991                   TAG: 9102210484
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: C-6   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Short

MAYORS: PLAN WILL DIVIDE CITIES, STATES

Mayors say that President Bush's proposal to shift billions of dollars in federal programs to the states is one more example of the national government's abandonment of cities.

"This latest formulation of New Federalism is - once again - no federalism," New York Mayor David Dinkins told the House and Senate Budget committees on Wednesday. "It leaves cities to fend for themselves."

Dinkins and two other mayors complained that Bush's proposal to roll $15 billion for federal programs into block grants to the states will pit cities against state governments.

"If the governors and mayors turn on each other, maybe they won't turn on the White House," said Boston Mayor Raymond Flynn. "To me, this isn't federalism, it's a fraud."

The mayors also worried that some state governments would hold back the money.

"There is a serious risk that the temptation in state capitals will prove too great - and money that now funds much-needed services in our cities will be spent on other state programs, supplanting state funds that are currently devoted to providing services," Dinkins said.

In his 1992 budget released last month, President Bush proposed giving directly to the states at least $15 billion that the federal government would normally allocate to education, water treatment construction, health and human services, housing and law enforcement.

The states would have greater flexibility in how they use the money, and the concept should cut red tape, the administration says.

by CNB