They Only Help Those Who Help Themselves : U.S. aid, yes, but the state must be willing to tax itself

Washington continues to respond efficiently to the mounting challenges created by the Northridge earthquake. But the aid being delivered by the federal government is only the beginning for Southern California: Much more will be needed to rebuild a region that is crucial to the entire nation.

Donna Shalala, President Clinton’s health and human services secretary, is the latest Cabinet member to personally inspect the damage and announce federal assistance. She will make available $28 million more to help repair hospitals and government medical centers.

Commerce Secretary Ronald H. Brown is expected to come to Los Angeles this week to address the long-term recovery of businesses. That visit, too, is most welcome, for an economic recovery is critical to restoring jobs, goods, services and a sense of order.

The Clinton Administration is expected to seek at least $8.6 billion in aid--and that figure might increase as damage estimates grow. Congress will soon take up a supplemental appropriation to help Los Angeles. To help speed that legislation into law, Gov. Pete Wilson should put more state money on the table in Sacramento. His initial request for 100% federal financing is unrealistic. He and the Legislature must be prepared to consider a temporary tax hike to help pay for rebuilding. If federal purse strings are to loosen again, Washington must see Californians as willing to do their part.

The need is enormous. Nearly 216,000 people applied for federal assistance, according to Richard Andrews, director of the California Office of Emergency Services, and thousands more are expected to apply before the Federal Emergency Management Agency folds up its disaster relief centers in Los Angeles.

Thousands of victims already have received government checks and vouchers to pay for temporary housing and other basic necessities and repairs. Another group that desperately needs help is the many individuals and families who were homeless before the earthquake; currently, they don’t qualify for emergency relief.

More than 112,000 people had applied for emergency food stamps by Saturday. Sadly--but predictably--their ranks included more than a few fraudulent applicants. At the urging of the County Board of Supervisors, federal and county officials put in new safeguards to prevent abuse, including a computer system to track duplicate applications.

Authorities have lost no time in making arrests for aid-related fraud. Inspectors from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which administers the food stamp program, and local police officers have arrested five people on charges of illegally buying food stamps from cash-hungry applicants.

The Northridge earthquake, which has generated both heroism and greed, has proved to be no exception to the notion that tragedy brings out the best and worst in people. The 6.6-point temblor killed our neighbors, destroyed our homes, damaged our businesses and karate-chopped some freeways, and its seemingly endless aftershocks have frayed our nerves. But it did not shatter our resolve, and the surest way to prove that to the rest of the country is for Sacramento to rapidly ante up the tax money needed for rebuilding.