Bush administration officials said the program, at $200 million, would still provide much more money than was available last year.

But some Bush administration officials find that figure too high.

First, for what it's worth, Bush administration officials have been saying all the wrong things.

Bush administration officials have said in recent months that they share the same fear.

Bush administration officials say they, too, believe aid can help.

Bush administration officials have decided to wait and see, a lawyer for one of the oil companies said.

Bush administration officials said they did not know how much their commitment to the states would cost.

Bush Administration officials have not said what the allies would do then.

But a Bush administration official said the idea had been dropped.

Bush administration officials had been informed of the effort, they said.

Bush administration officials said the program, at $200 million, would still provide much more money than was available last year.

But some Bush administration officials find that figure too high.

First, for what it's worth, Bush administration officials have been saying all the wrong things.

Bush administration officials have said in recent months that they share the same fear.

Bush administration officials say they, too, believe aid can help.

Bush administration officials have decided to wait and see, a lawyer for one of the oil companies said.

Bush administration officials said they did not know how much their commitment to the states would cost.

Bush Administration officials have not said what the allies would do then.

But a Bush administration official said the idea had been dropped.

Bush administration officials had been informed of the effort, they said.

Bush administration officials said the program, at $200 million, would still provide much more money than was available last year.

But some Bush administration officials find that figure too high.

First, for what it's worth, Bush administration officials have been saying all the wrong things.

Bush administration officials have said in recent months that they share the same fear.

Bush administration officials say they, too, believe aid can help.

Bush administration officials have decided to wait and see, a lawyer for one of the oil companies said.

Bush administration officials said they did not know how much their commitment to the states would cost.

Bush Administration officials have not said what the allies would do then.

But a Bush administration official said the idea had been dropped.

Bush administration officials had been informed of the effort, they said.