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AJC.com > Legislature > Blog > Archives > 2006 > January > 30 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USTaylor proposes constitutional amendment to protect HOPE
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor wants a constitutional amendment to force voters to approve any changes in the HOPE scholarship, which he said is too valuable to be left up to the whim of lawmakers.
Taylor said this afternoon that his proposed amendment, sponsored by Senate Minority Leader Robert Brown (D-Macon), would prevent HOPE funding from being cut unless the program is significantly cutting into reserves, and only if two-thirds of the General Assembly and voters approve it.
It also would protect lottery funds from being used for anything but HOPE and pre-kindergarten classes, as does a proposed amendment working its way through the General Assembly sponsored by Gov. Sonny Perdue.
Perdue, who is up for re-election, and Taylor, who is running against him this year, are battling to be the champion of the popular scholarship program, which has helped hundreds of thousands of Georgia voters and their families.
Taylor accused Perdue of cutting the program in 2004, when requirements and benefits were tightened because of fears that the program would run out of money. Since then, lottery sales have continued to increase, lessening the possibility of a shortfall.
The lieutenant governor said he wants to restore cuts made to the program in 2004. He called Perdue’s proposed amendment “a fraud� because it doesn’t protect HOPE from future cutbacks.
“If I run into any opposition on my proposal, I think I am looking at somebody who plans to cut the HOPE scholarship in the future,� Taylor said.
Perdue spokesman Dan McLagan said he hopes Taylor will support the governor’s initiative. When asked about Taylor’s comments, McLagan said, “It’s a campaign year. We’re governing.�
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