Kemp will hand out up to $1.2B in cash to poorer Georgians

By JEFF AMY
Associated Press

ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp says he will spend up to $1.2 billion on payments of $350 apiece to poorer Georgians. More than 3 million people who were benefitting from Medicaid, subsidized child health insurance, food stamps or cash welfare assistance as of July 31 will get the money. A Kemp spokesperson said Monday that payments will start as early as September. The decision will put money in the hands of less affluent Georgians as November’s election approaches. Democrat Stacey Abrams criticizes the decision as one of Kemp’s “election-year vote buying schemes.” Kemp’s challenger for governor says it’s hypocritical for Kemp to tout federal spending that he has criticized.