In April 2017 , Representative Graves became engaged in a public dispute with Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards regarding the disbursement of federal assistance for Louisiana 's 2016 flooding victims . Graves , who has been mentioned as a potential challenger to Edwards in the 2019 gubernatorial election , claims that he is " focused on flood recovery ... none of the governor 's talk is helping flood victims . " Edwards attributed the delay in disbursement of the funds , which began on April 10 , to the state 's financial shortfall which prevented the quick retaining of a disaster management firm . Edwards ' executive counsel , Matthew Block , explained that the state had no money in 2016 to pay the contractor . Edwards currently projects a $ 440 million budget deficit for the fiscal year that began on July 1 , 2017
2016 flooding
2016 Louisiana floods
Garret Graves