Dems and Republicans tour areas hit hard by drought

KENOSHA COUNTY -- Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker declared all 72 counties in our state are in a state of emergency. Now he's getting heads of state together to figure out how to handle this year's drought.

Governor Walker and several state leaders are touring the areas of the state hardest hit by the drought. The Governor says the crops looked like sand traps in a golf course. He says, "The southern part of the state has been the most affected, and two weeks ago we are declaring half the state disaster areas we've now expanded that."

The Governor says he is contacting federal officials to get Wisconsin the list of states eligible for federal assistance allowing hard hit Wisconsin farmers to get grants and loans.

Republicans weren't the only ones touring dry areas, Democratic leader Peter Barca accompanied the Governor during his tour.

The Department of Natural Resources Secretary Cathy Stepp says the DNR has already given 29 farmers emergency permits to use water from streams or lakes to irrigate crops.