Help Save the HOPE Scholarship (From SaveTheHope.com)

As someone who has signed-on in an effort to Help Save The HOPE Scholarship, we thought you might want to know about this... share with those you might like, and please continue to alert your friends to our web site ( http://www.savethehope.com ) and important initiative....

NBC poll: Georgia voters want VLT venue to save the HOPE scholarship

ATLANTA (July 24, 2012) – Fifty-six percent of Georgians support expanding the Georgia Lottery with Video Lottery Terminals in a casino-style environment to fund the HOPE scholarship, according to a poll released today by 11Alive, the Atlanta NBC affiliate.

The poll found widespread support for VLTs across all ages, genders and political parties, including conservatives and Republican voters.

The poll was released a week before the Republican Primary, which will feature a ballot question asking voters if they support casinos to fund education in Georgia.

Atlanta developer Dan O’Leary, who did not advocate for the question to be placed on the ballot, has said the question is flawed and does not accurately ask voters about his proposed project.

“The polls results show what we have known for years: Georgians support expanding the Georgia Lottery to increase revenue for the HOPE scholarship and pre-kindergarten programs. Particularly, this poll confirms that our support is widespread and that if the ballot question was asked correctly, it would better reflect the views of Georgia voters,” O’Leary said Tuesday. “

O’Leary has proposed building a $1 billion mixed-use entertainment complex in Gwinnett County featuring 7,500 VLTs, a luxury hotel, spa, performance venue and fine restaurants. The project is estimated to raise more than $350 million annually for the HOPE scholarship, create 2,500 permanent jobs and another 1,000 construction jobs. The project only requires a vote by the Georgia Lottery Board to expand gaming with VLTs in a secure destination venue.

The poll, conducted by SurveyUSA, found:
Democrats:    64% support the gaming expansion. 23% are opposed. 13% are undecided.
Republicans:  52% support the gaming expansion. 40% are opposed. 8% are undecided.
Independents: 51% support the gaming expansion. 38% are opposed. 11% are undecided.

Conservative: 48% support the gaming expansion. 44% are opposed. 8% are undecided.
Moderate:        59% support the gaming expansion. 30% are opposed. 10% are undecided.
Liberal:            63% support the gaming expansion. 21% are opposed. 15% are undecided.

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Thank you for your continued support.

Best Regards

Jason Hennessey & Bud Carter

Well-Positioned To Win (From the Steve Oppenheimer For Public Service Commissioner Campaign)

I look forward to winning this seat for the consumers of Georgia on November 6th. It’s high time Georgia ratepayers –– people like you and me, who are paying higher utility bills every month –– had a common sense voice on the Commission. Please join me Thursday, July 12th at 7pm at the Emory University Campus for the first Public Service Commission debate (Click HERE for more information on the Debate). These debates will focus on Georgia’s energy challenges, possible solutions and the Commission's tremendous impact on Gerogian’s budgets, our environment and our economy. Our next campaign disclosure report, which will be announced early next week, will show our campaign has raised over $128,000 thus far; more than any Democrat who has run for the PSC in the past decade! Again, thank you for your continued support of my campaign, P.S. If you haven't already, please "Like" my campaign on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/oppenheimerforgeorgia -- Steve Oppenheimer Candidate for Public Service Commission - District 3 (map) www.steveforgeorgia.com

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