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

DATE: THURSDAY, September 2, 1993                   TAG: 9309020275
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: BONNIE V. WINSTON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Short

WILDER: STATE TO GIVE TORNADO AID

State and local governments will have to help areas hit by tornadoes last month, should the federal government persist in denying disaster aid, Gov. Douglas Wilder said Wednesday.

Talking with reporters, Wilder bristled at suggestions that an expected $500 million budget shortfall may hamper the state's efforts to help areas in Petersburg, Colonial Heights and Hopewell that were hit hard by Aug. 6 twisters.

And he angrily waved off notions that the Federal Emergency Management Agency's thumbs down Tuesday to Virginia's request for money is linked to Clinton administration attempts to stem the federal budget's waves of red ink.

"We're bringing 4,000 Iraqi troops to America to feed them, care for them and to do everything else," Wilder said. "We're providing funds to countries abroad. . . . The American people are saying, `What about us?'

"The budget wasn't busted as a result of those instances. And the budget isn't going to be wrecked or busted as a result of the few dollars we're asking for.

"I've never heard anyone say [the administration doesn't] have any money," he said. "I've never heard anyone say funds are not available. So why should you make excuses for people who haven't made any for themselves?"

Wilder said he was distracted by Hurricane Emily and would speak to Clinton by today.

by CNB