Governor Kemp “beyond frustrated” over lack of disaster aid for south Georgia

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp said he is "beyond frustrated" and it's "ridiculous" there is still no agreement on federal disaster aid to help Georgia farmers and others impacted by hurricanes, floods and wildfires.

Speaking to WSB’s Scott Slade on Atlanta’s Morning News, Governor Kemp said its time to put politics aside and “get something done.”

>>LISTEN TO SLADE’S FULL INTERVIEW WITH THE GOVERNOR BELOW.

More than 200 days after Hurricane Michael devastated Georgia and Florida, Kemp wonders what’s taking so long. “The longest disaster bill we’ve ever had before was Hurricane Sandy, up in New Jersey. It took a little over 55 days, now we’ve been over 200,” Kemp said.

Despite the lack of an agreement, Kemp said Georgia’s delegation is doing its part. “I know Senator Perdue and Senator Isakson have been working for over a month, probably closer to two, to get something done in the Senate,” he told WSB.

Kemp and nine other governors in states affected by natural disasters have written a letter to the president and congressional leaders in Washington D.C. requesting “urgent attention” to help their states recover. Kemp vowed “To keep the pressure on them up there and hopefully they can get something done.”

Unfortunately, he said “politics is at play there, which is very frustrating to our farmers.”

WSB’s Jamie Dupree reports the U.S. House approved a $19 billion measure for disaster relief Friday, but Congress may be no closer to a final agreement because President Trump objects to extra disaster relief for Puerto Rico.

It remains to be seen what happens next to the bill. Democrats are hopeful the Senate will approve it, despite the president’s opposition.