3-1987-5145 
 
House Information Office Room 505, Legislative Office Building 
Atlanta, Georgia 30334 1-800-282-5800 404-656-5082 
 
March 5, 2004 
 
For Immediate Release 
 
SENATE FOLLOWS HOUSE LEAD ON HOPE 
 
Saving Book and Fee Payments will Help Thousands 
Atlanta State Representative Louise McBee (D-Athens), Chairman of the Higher Education Committee, Pat Gardner (D-Atlanta), Vice-Chair of the Higher Education Committee, and Speaker Pro Tem DuBose Porter (D-Dublin) announce they are pleased with the Senate finally agreeing with the House on saving HOPE book and fee payments. 
 
A study commission on the HOPE scholarship earlier this year recommended book and fee payments be eliminated in order to preserve the popular program but lottery revenues have dramatically increased in recent months. The governor, subsequently, did not include books and fees in his budget for the fall of 2004. This prompted House lawmakers to question the need to eliminate the payments which many student receiving the popular scholarship cannot afford to pay. 
 
According to Rep. McBee, "I believe HOPE needs to be preserved and am looking forward to working with the Senate and Governor toward that end. With lottery revenues on the increase it is not in the best interest of those seeking a college education through the HOPE scholarship to place an added burden on them, especially with our current economy." 
 
McBee expressed concern that the Senate's new revenue projection may be too liberal. "We clearly need a more conservative estimate. The Commission used 1.2% to project the cost of books and fees, but the Senate used 3%. The people of Georgia expect us to be responsible, and that is what the House will be." 
 
"There are so many students throughout Georgia that can only go to college or technical school because of the HOPE scholarship and if we take away the book and fee payment when we don't have to in these tough economic times, it would be devastating," said Rep. Gardner. "We all want to preserve the program but it is important to take a step back and make sure we are not acting too fast." 
 
In conclusion Speaker Pro-Tem Dubose Porter said, "We have been telling the members of the Senate Higher Education Committee and others that with rising lottery revenues we could put off eliminating book and fee payments for at least a year. With costs reaching as high as $1,000 per year many consider this a vital component to being able to afford a quality college or technical education in Georgia. Families need time to plan. I'm glad to see the Senate has finally agreed." 
 
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For further information please contact Rep. McBee at 404-656-5069.