Debate gauntlets
flung over HOPE
Published on:
03/09/04
Debate challenges are flying as top state officials remain at odds
over how to preserve the HOPE scholarship.
Senate
Majority Leader Bill Stephens (R-Canton) last week challenged Lt. Gov. Mark
Taylor, a Democrat, to four public debates on HOPE, which is forecast to face
financial problems in the next few years. Taylor responded Monday, saying he is
willing to debate but wants to go head-to-head with Republican Gov. Sonny
Perdue, who has proposed cutting book and fee payments to HOPE scholars. Taylor
opposes the move.
"Since you and I seem to disagree on the
availability of funding for books and fees, the viability of lottery and the
original mission of the program, I am convinced it would be most productive for
you and I to debate these issues directly," Taylor wrote to
Perdue.
Derrick Dickey, a spokesman for Perdue, said Tuesday the
governor doesn't plan to accept.
"Bill Stephens challenged Mark
Taylor to a debate on the merit of each of their proposals," Dickey said. "The
Senate majority leader is more than capable of handling the lieutenant governor
on that."
Measure caps
fees
HOPE will pay out
HOPE scholars would
have to pay the cost of any increases in mandatory college fees in the future
under legislation approved by a House committee Tuesday.
The
measure, which would cap the amount of fee money HOPE will pay out, is part of a
package pushed by House Higher Education Committee Chairwoman Louise McBee
(D-Athens). The bill also would allow the state to trim book payments to HOPE
scholars if the program's year-end balance begins to fall.
The
Senate Higher Education Committee last week passed its own version of
legislation aimed at preserving HOPE. Both bills are expected to be before their
chambers within the next week.