Cuts in Georgia's HOPE college scholarship program recommended by Republican Gov. Sonny Perdue are the Democratic "ticket to victory in the year 2004," Democratic Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor told hundreds of grass-roots activists Saturday.

Afterward, Taylor told reporters that fixing HOPE remains a bipartisan issue during this year's session of the Legislature and that he is "still reaching out" to Perdue.

But Taylor also labeled the governor's proposals for saving the bankruptcy-bound scholarship fund, which include trimming money for books and fee payments, the act of an "anti-public education" administration -- which he said state Democrats are obligated to oppose.

"He's cutting the HOPE scholarship where it's not necessary," Taylor said.

A spokesman for Perdue accused the lieutenant governor of playing to polls and denounced Taylor's substitute proposal, which calls for a freeze in college tuition. "The lieutenant governor's plan is Armageddon for the HOPE scholarship," declared spokesman Dan McLagan. "It destroys it in 2006."

The weekend exchange again made clear that salvaging HOPE will play a crucial role in the fight for control of the state Capitol, at the center of which lies this year's Democratic effort to regain the closely divided state Senate. The issue is certain to linger through 2006, when Perdue is expected to run for re-election -- and Taylor plans to oppose him.

Earlier this month, Perdue released his proposed 2005 budget, which eliminates $125 million that was to provide fee and book money to HOPE scholars. Perdue said he was only following the recommendation of a bipartisan legislative commission. The cuts would go into effect this fall, costing some HOPE scholars more than $1,000 a year.

Perdue also wants to tie an SAT score of 900 or above to the scholarship program -- a move that was not recommended by the bipartisan commission. Students who score below 900 would lose their HOPE scholarship more quickly, after a single semester, if they didn't keep a B or better average in college. Under the current system, students lose their HOPE scholarship after two semesters if they don't maintain a B average.

Taylor said use of SAT scores would disproportionately burden students from rural areas of Georgia, where 80 percent score below 1,000 on the SAT.