Abrams, Kemp not in agreement on college opportunities for Dreamers

It was a week when Democrats and Republicans fought over whether somebody should quit a job and what’s the financially responsible thing to do, but immigration also had its chance to shine in the Georgia governor’s race.

Democrat Stacey Abrams favors allowing “dream kids,” the young immigrants who have been shielded from deportation by the Obama-era Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals program, known to many as DACA, to attend any of Georgia’s public colleges and universities. That’s counter to the state Board of Regents’ policy blocking their admission to some schools, including the University of Georgia and Georgia Tech.

Abrams also says such students, who were children when they were brought to the country illegally, should be able to receive the HOPE scholarship.

“There are those who say, ‘You shouldn’t do that because there are tax dollars (involved),’ “Abrams told a crowd in Dalton, according to The Chattanooga Times Free Press. “The reality is, it’s paid for by the lottery. I promise you: Everybody plays the lottery. So everyone deserves to benefit from it.”

Later in the week, Abrams said her policy would live up to the “legal obligation” under the state constitution to provide an education for every child.

Said Abrams: “My point is simply this: I want to follow the lead of Texas and other states that have said if you graduate from our high schools, if you’re part of our community, you should continue to get education and continue to be a productive citizen.”

Republican Brian Kemp responded that he “won’t reward illegal behavior with handouts, perks and scholar- ships as law-abiding Georgians work to make ends meet.”

Abrams answered Kemp’s response by saying the stu- dents are not a burden on the system but an asset.

“We’re talking about students who will invest in our state,” she said. “My position is this: Dreamers are part of our community, and I want them to be lifted up.”

Lawsuits are still being debated in state and federal courts on whether DACA-protected immigrants can attend all public colleges in Georgia and whether they are eligi- ble for HOPE scholarships.

■ Staying up late: Can it be long before she performs in Carpool Karaoke?

Abrams fulfilled her duties as a late-night television guest this past week when she pitched her book, “Minority Leader.” This time, it was on Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show,” and her campaign for governor also came up.

Abr a ms discussed her approach to the election, including her effort to bring out voters — particularly disenchanted African-Americans — who often take a pass when it’s time to cast ballots.

“You’re either at the table or you’re on the menu,” Abrams said.

She added: “I’m going to win this election because I revere the right to vote . ... For me, the real important piece of this — and I think why people get confused — I want every vote. But I’m going to center the vote on those who are the least likely to vote — and that tends to be people of color.”

Abrams made a similar case during a visit in late June on “Late Night With Seth Meyers,” and she’s also appeared on “Full Frontal With Samantha Bee.”

That still leaves Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel and James Corden, who likes to sing inside cars with guests of the show. Abrams may want to warm up the vocal chords. ■ Schooling, Libertarian-style: Ted Metz, the Libertarian candidate for governor, would like to see education improve in Georgia. He suggests a rather broad curriculum. “We should be providing our youth with reasoning skills that enable true discernment, not enabling them to pass federally-mandated tests,” Metz said in a press release. “Education should be based off factual and truthful science and history, and be balanced with health and nutrition, physical fitness, classic philosophy, math, logic, art, theater, music and vocational training to produce happy, healthy, motivated citizens.”

■ Counterprogramming could be peachy: State Sen. Josh McKoon, R-Columbus, noted in a Facebook post that the episode of Sacha Baron Cohen’s “Who Is America?” that forced Republican Jason Spencer’s early exit from the Legislature featured a Georgia peach in the closing credits.

That means Georgia taxpayers contributed coin toward Spencer’s downfall through tax credits the state allots to the film and television industry for locating operations in Georgia.

“I hope as long as Georgia is subsidizing film and television production anyway,” McKoon wrote, “that we can get conservative voices to take advantage of the program.”