U. prof endorses Yeakel

and JORDANA HORN A group of Pennsylvania economists, including Emeritus Economics Professor Lawrence Klein, publicly endorsed Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Lynn Yeakel's economic platform on campus yesterday afternoon. Klein, who was awarded the 1980 Nobel prize in Economics, spoke on behalf of the group of 27 economists from Pennsylvania universities in support of the Yeakel's six-point economic recovery strategy, titled Getting Pennsylvania to Work Again. "Overall, we are impressed by and endorse Yeakel's proposals to address both our short-term crises and our long-term need for economic growth," Klein said in his endorsement statement before about 45 people outside Steinberg-Dietrich Hall. Yeakel will take on incumbent Republican Senator Arlen Specter on November 3. The six points of Yeakel's proposal are equitable tax reforms and targeted tax incentives, public investment in education and job training, comprehensive national health care reform, improved access to markets and "rebuilding America," fully-funded "ready-to-go" public works projects, and "making foreign trade fair trade." "If you could answer all those problems in a good essay question, I'd see that your professor gave you an A," Klein said to appreciative laughter from the audience. After Klein gave the group's endorsement, Yeakel thanked the group for endorsing "a very substantive and very strong economic plan," and said the plan would serve as more than "lip service and promises". Yeakel said that the plan is indicative of her vision of "the new role of the federal government as a catalyst for change." Wharton and College junior Scott Sher, who introduced Klein in his capacity as president of the College Democrats, said he was glad that Yeakel had come to the University. "I thought that it was very impressive. You usually perceive the Wharton School as a bastion of conservativism, and here you have one of its leading professors endorsing a Democratic senatorial candidate," Sher said. Sher added that the endorsement was a significant one. "They solidly endorsed [Yeakel's] plan over an incumbent senator, who has had over 12 years to make his mark," he said. "Obviously, he hasn't in the minds of these people." Yeakel, who recent polls show to be lagging behind incumbent Specter, said "the only poll that matters is the one on Election Day." "I have every intention of winning this election, by the way," Yeakel added with a smile. Wharton senior Jennifer Friedman said she wished that the on-campus endorsement had been better publicized. "It could have raised the consciousness of more students at the University of Pennsylvania, but the students who were here seemed informed and supportive of Yeakel's views," she said.