Don't delay storm-repair aid

As battle lines are drawn on Capitol Hill over whether federal disaster aid for Irene should be made up by cuts elsewhere in the budget, two things are clear. First, help for those hit hardest by the storm shouldn't be held up while Congress fights over cuts. Second, the $7 billion to $10 billion in emergency aid shouldn't be put on the overextended federal credit card.

Congress should spend what the disaster demands and then identify cuts to cover the tab. But there are savings to be had without hitting the poor and middle class. For instance, why not cut farm subsidies and oil-industry tax breaks, or pare Defense Department fat?

This fight will be joined when Congress reconvenes next week because the Federal Emergency Management Agency has only $800 million to last through Sept. 30. Congress will have to OK more cash.

New York would be in the lurch if Congress is paralyzed by partisan bickering over Republicans' demand that the aid be offset. Local governments on Long Island could lose federal aid for three-quarters of the cost to repair roads, bridges and schools and to remove debris. Individuals and businesses here don't qualify because Nassau and Suffolk aren't among eight counties in the president's disaster declaration -- though yesterday, Long Island's state senators and New York's U.S. senators called on the president to include them.

Washington must control its borrowing, but not at the expense of communities devastated by Irene. hN