Mrs. Bush-Make College Free

By Mervin Leon Evans

Evans Asks Mrs. Bush to make Higher Education Free

Dear Mr. President & Mrs. Bush

Outstanding ! The selection of the First Lady to become the Czar of Urban Affairs is a solid public policy statement that reflects good judgment.

I am enclosing a copy of the Evans Civil Rights Act, an initiative to revise California's constitution and allow "preferences for historical victims of racism or sexism. "

A middle-class family with two children can barely afford a house and a car now. The best investment we can make is to provide every American Young Person access to a higher education.

Mrs. Bush, this initiative would include a 1.5 percent tax on retail sales to create a state education fund. Half of the fund would be used to eliminate all student-related fees for California residents in the state's public colleges and universities.

The other half of the fund would be managed by the state's Superintendent of Public Instruction to create college-bound programs for economically disadvantaged children.

I am very hopeful that Maria Shiver, will urge our lawmakers in Sacrament to place this initiative in front of our voters in our 2005 Special Election. A national plan following this model would be a powerful statement. No American College bound Young Person will be left behind!

Mrs. Bush, California's budget favors incarceration more than education. We spend more on the California prison system than California state universities. There are more inmates in prison than student in the California State University and College systems."

Thank You,

Mervin Evans PO BOX 71351 Los Angeles, CA 90071 323-445-4461

MERVIN EVANS Civil Rights Act

1.5 Sales Taxes for Higher Eduction Initiative Constitutional Amendment

Revises California Constitution to restore affirmative action programs and preferences for historical victims of racism or sexism in the operation of public education and public contracting. Creates a 1.5% tax on retail sales to establish "The Student Higher Education Trust Fund."

Half of the Fund will be used to pay for all admission and student related fees for all California residents at California public colleges.

The other half of the Fund will go to the California Superintendent of Public Instruction to create college-bound programs for poor children.

Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: If passed, there would be an annual increase in retail sales taxes of about 6 billion dollars to be used for higher education and social services programs.

The measure would result in significant increases in state capital costs for constructing public higher education facilities as well as increases in state and local costs of potentially tens of millions of dollars per year to implement preferential contracting programs.