Georgia Republicans fight back on HOPE scholarship changes

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By Kristina Torres

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Senate Republicans hit back for the first time Thursday at Democrats who lambasted Gov. Nathan Deal's handling of Georgia's popular HOPE scholarship, saying their colleagues were trying only to score "cheap political points" in an election year.

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Gov. Nathan Deal signs HB 326, which overhauled the HOPE Scholarship on March 15, 2011. Legislators continue to debate the law a year later.

Brant Sanderlin, bsanderlin@ajc.com Gov. Nathan Deal signs HB 326, which overhauled the HOPE Scholarship on March 15, 2011. Legislators continue to debate the law a year later.

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"I want to commend Governor Deal for taking action last year [that] this important scholarship for Georgia be preserved," said Senate Majority Whip Cecil Staton, R-Macon, responding to continued chiding by Democrats.

An unplanned, 45-minute debate then erupted on the floor, with Republicans' rebuttal including comments by Senate Higher Education Chairman Buddy Carter, R-Pooler.

"HOPE students are the best of the best; these students have earned it by academic success," Carter said.

Staton continued that theme, adding that HOPE is "not simply another program of entitlements. This is a scholarship ... a reward for [students'] hard work."

Democrats in both the Senate and House have filed bills starting in January with proposed changes that include reinstating a cap on family income for students to be eligible for HOPE. Such a cap existed when the program began but was quickly lifted after the Georgia Lottery -- which funds HOPE -- proved financially successful.

The proposals have come as lawmakers start to see the impact of changes made to HOPE last year, when the Legislature and Deal reduced award payouts and implemented other changes to keep the program from going broke. Lottery revenue, while bringing in billions of dollars since it began in 1993, can't keep up with soaring enrollment and tuition. More than 256,000 students received a HOPE benefit last year, while fewer than 200,000 received such assistance a decade ago.

Deal and Republican leaders in the General Assembly have said it is too early to tell how well the changes are working. Democrats have called them a failure, saying more needs to be done to help high-achieving, low-income students. They announced Thursday that they have launched a new website, www.vanishing-hope.com.