South Cobb State Reps Kick Off HOPE Scholarship Listening Tour

Georgia State Reps. Alisha Morgan (D-Austell) David Wilkerson (D-Austell) and Stacey Evans (D-Smyrna), are co-hosting the first in a series of statewide listening tours to better understand the impact of cuts to the HOPE scholarship program. The first stop will be on Monday at 6:30 p.m. at Southern Polytechnic State University in Marietta.

The Democratic lawmakers are seeking constituents' feedback to bring more awareness to their efforts to save the Hope Scholarship program. The scholarship fund currently faces a $243 million budget shortfall and cash reserves are projected to run out in three years, according to a release from the Democratic caucus.

According to the release, "Georgia's HOPE scholarship is the largest merit-based scholarship program in the United States. Implemented in 1993, HOPE has covered full tuition and a portion of fees and textbooks for 1.3 million Georgia students."

The State House Democrats are creating an online poll that will be available next week to collect voters' thoughts about the HOPE scholarship program.

MORE ABOUT THE HOPE SCHOLARSHIP LISTENING TOUR  Southern Polytechnic State University is located at 1100 S. Marietta Parkway, Marietta. The forum will be held in Building A, Room 216. For more information about the event, please contact Rep. Stacey Evans, 404-656-6372. To learn more about other listening tour locations, contact the Georgia House Democratic Caucus www.gahousedems.com, call 404-656-5059 or email staff@gahousedems.com.