Federal Emergency Management Agency has denied an appeal by Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle to rethink its decision to not provide aid for Wisconsin counties struck by tornadoes. On Aug. 18, an astounding 27 tornadoes struck Dane, Richland, and Vernon counties, destroying 67 homes and damaging more than 400.

Our government has failed the Wisconsin residents who are not receiving federal assistance.

This should come as shocking news to students at Marquette who have ties to people in these areas.

With the failure of this appeal, we must call for more fiscal responsibility from our federal government to ensure this situation does not arise in the future.

The cost of the damage has been estimated to exceed $40 million. As we have said before, the decision not to help Americans in need is shameful. This is the result of poor planning on the part of the Bush administration; its large budget, tremendous tax-cuts and two ongoing wars have placed us in the position of choosing between which disaster victims should receive aid.

In years past, FEMA helped Wisconsin residents in disasters that caused less damage. According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the victims of 2002 tornadoes and storms in 19 counties that caused $27.7 million in damage received federal assistance.

Furthermore, victims of flooding and storms in June 2002 that caused $14.3 million in damage in eight counties received federal aid. Thus, FEMA's denial of aid to Wisconsin points to the growing problem our country is facing in fulfilling its obligations. Present circumstances are testing our ability to maintain the country in ways to which we are accustomed.

We are still carrying the cost of two foreign wars, and the relief effort in New Orleans and surrounding areas is projected to cost more than $200 billion. Couple this with the President Bush's opposition to raising taxes and we are left desperate for money.

In order to pay for all of these commitments, the United States must go to the marketplace and borrow money from countries such as China and Japan. We should not turn ourselves into a nation of debtors to assist people in need when more fiscal responsibility can prevent us from doing so.

With the information we have, we must demand that our fellow Americans are provided the necessary assistance when disaster strikes. An increase in accountability and fiscal responsibility will go a long way to ensure that Americans in disaster areas receive the aid they need.