HOPE scholarship continues to figure in governor's race

ATLANTA - The popular HOPE scholarship program continued to hold a starring role in the Georgia governor&#39;s race Wednesday as Republican Sonny Perdue promised new legislation to protect the program if he is elected governor. <br> <br> The announcement during a high school visit in Cobb County came a week after Democratic Governor Barnes began airing TV ads accusing Perdue of voting against the program while he was a state legislator. <br> <br> The lottery-funded program, begun by former Governor Zell Miller, pays college tuition and some fees of students who earn and keep a ``B&#39;&#39; average. <br> <br> In Wednesday&#39;s announcement, Perdue vowed to push for a constitutional amendment that would allow the state to spend lottery funds only for the HOPE scholarship and for voluntary pre-kindergarten four four-year-olds. <br> <br> Currently, it also is allowed to spend lottery money for education-related construction and for technology. <br> <br> Perdue said the step would ensure the HOPE scholarship is available for those who want it, even if lottery revenue turns down. Already, there has been concern the popularity of the program will outstrip the ability of the lottery to pay for it. <br> <br> Barnes, through spokesman Billy Linville, called the proposal a typical election-year conversion by a politician who is trying to hide from his record. <br> <br> Both candidates were in the Legislature in 1998 when the General Assembly approved legislation giving the HOPE scholarship first call on lottery proceeds, and both supported the measure though in different forms.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2002/10/189098