House rejects Perdue lottery plan

ATLANTA - The House has rejected Gov. Sonny Perdue's proposal to take money from the state lottery reserves to pay for scholarships and grants typically funded with taxpayer dollars.

The House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday approved the $17.4 billion midyear spending plan by a 53-5 vote.

House budget writers shifted money throughout the spending plan to avoid using some $33 million in lottery funds for education, as Perdue had proposed. The state constitution mandates that lottery moneys be used for the HOPE scholarship and pre-kindergarten programs. Legislative leaders have asked Attorney General Thurbert Baker for a legal opinion on whether the funds shift Perdue had proposed was constitutional.

Georgia is grappling with a $1.2 billion budget hole for the fiscal year than ends June 30.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2010/2/226932