The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com Monday, September 12, 2011 -7A The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom Monday, Sephember 12. 2011 - 7A Obama's jobs plan met with mix of optimism and doubt Court of Appeals to rehear affirmative action case 'U' officials say effect of policy will be too delayed By ANDREW SCHULMAN Daily StaffReporter Americans across the country watched President Barack Obama deliver his much-anticipated speech in front of a joint session of Congress on Thursday - some watching with hope, others with skepticism. Since Obama of ic-e unveiled the Ameri- office can Jobs Act, Uni- H O R versity professors H JJI have shared mixed responses of hope and caution about the act. They say the plan could prove effective but is perhaps too modest or may not register the country's desired immediate impact. University officials lauded Obama's package of proposals, which includes the extension and expansion of a cut in payroll taxes, investments in infra- structure and schools and aid to states to prevent mass teacher layoffs. How- ever, some worry Obama has pandered to Washington's political gridlock in suggesting a plan with effects that may not appear until next year. Don Grimes, senior research asso- ciate at the University's Institute for Research on Labor, Employment and the Economy, said citizens will need to wait until 2012 for an economic uptick. "I think people are looking for this to turn around the economy in the next month or two, and I think they're going to be disappointed because it's not going to have any effect on the econo- my for the next three or four months, and the real effect will be even longer term," Grimes said. He emphasized that many fac- ets of the policy have already been in effect for some time. "In the end I sort of realized as I was listening (to Obama's speech) that we're just going to go forward with what we've already got baked in the cake and that this fiscal policy pro- gram, whether it's good (or) bad, is not really going to have much of an effect on the short term." Public Policy Dean Susan Collins said she is optimistic Obama's plan may improve the economy. The act's "main pillars," including tax incentives for small businesses and aid to states, are "very sensible," she said. "There was a real focus on some of the tax incentive pieces and some of the infrastructure types of expendi- tures, which have really been support- ed in a bipartisan way historically," Collins said. She added that she is especially hopeful about the bill's incentives for small businesses. Among other tax measures, the plan will expand cuts in payroll taxes for small businesses and provide a tax holiday for small busi- nesses that hire new employees. "It's clear that the small businesses are the ones that are more, kind of con- strained, and so trying to focus assis- tance in that area makes a lot of sense, especially because better job creation does in fact come from small and medi- umbusinesses," Collins said. She also praised parts of Obama's plan that offer aid to "hurting" states to prevent teacher layoffs, modernize schools and repair the nation's infra- structure. "If you're trying to do something that's going to have any impact in the relatively short run, some public expenditures need to be there," Col- lins said. "And the idea of assistance to state and localities, for example, for teachers - that's something that could move pretty quickly and I think is real- ly important to do. But while Collins noted that the plan could reduce unemployment by as much as 1 percent nationwide within the year, she said some of Obama's pro- posals might not be directly linked to job creation. "I might have liked to see a little more explicit tie-in (with) some of the tax incentives to job creation than is actually there, so I think that creates a little more uncertainty in terms of how much of the incentives will make a dif- ference," Collins said. She added that continuingeconomic uncertainty is among the factors that will affect the impact of the propos- als. However, Doug Neal, managing director of the University's Center for Entrepreneurial Programs, wrote in an e-mail interview that the plan could be key in restoring consumers' faith in the economy. "It doesn't appear to be a long-term fix but may increase consumer confi- dence, which is key to helping us stim- ulate the economy," he wrote. Neal suggested that even if the plan doesn't prove to be a long-term solu- tion, it could still stimulate industry in Michigan and lower the state unem- ploymentrate currently at 10.9 percent, according to July 2011 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "The American Jobs Act, if approved, should provide at least a temporary increase in employment in Michigan for construction-related jobs and may even allow some small busi- nesses to add some employees more easily as we enter the shopping holiday season," Neal wrote. The plan may also be a boon for Uni- versity students seeking jobs in Michi- gan's growing entrepreneurial sector, Neal added. "The American Jobs Act may make more internship opportunities possible for our students at start-up companies, and that is one way that can help," he wrote. Despite his optimism, Neal explained more work would need to be done to make Michigan hospitable again for entrepreneurs and small busi- ness owners even if Obama's proposals spur a recovery for small business. "Michigan has a tremendous oppor- tunity to rebuild and be a leader in innovation and entrepreneurship," he wrote. "Making it easier for expe- rienced entrepreneurs who want to relocate back to Michigan, and join a start-up and join the momentum we are building would be an additional way we can continue to accelerate our efforts." Law lecturer: 'It's not just unconstitutional, it's un-American.' By BRIENNE PRUSAK Daily News Editor The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decided today to reconsider its July ruling to lift the state's ban on affirmative action - potentially reinstating the prohibition of considering race and gender in public uni- versity admissions. Proposal 2 originally passed in 2006 with a 58 to 42 percent vote, which dem- onstrated Michigan residents' desire to prevent preferential treatment based on race and gender and thus ban affirmative action. On July 1, a three-judge panel of the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the ruling in a 2-1 vote, calling the pro- posal the cause of dwindling diversity on campuses. Since 2005, the number of underrepre- sented minority students at the Univer- sity has decreased each year despite more admission offers to minority students and an increase in underrepresented students applying to the University. Last year, how- ever, there was an increase in the percent- age of underrepresented minority students in the freshman class - with 10.6 percent compared to 9.1 percent in 2009. This could be partly attributed, though, to dif- ferent ethnicity reporting instructions set by the Higher Education Opportunity Act. University Law lecturer Mark Rosen- baum, an American Civil Liberties Union lawyer who argued against the ban on affirmative action in the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals case, said he doesn't sup- port Proposal 2 because it limits the power of minorities. "It's not just unconstitutional, it's un- American, because it leaves out citizens of color," Rosenbaum said. "It makes it impossible to talk about race as one part of the American mosaic." He added that Proposal 2 subdues diver- sity at universities and affects the discus- sions of race and ethnicity that occur on campuses. "Proposal 2 locks out Michigan citizens of color fromtalking about race asa diverse student community," Rosenbaum said. While Rosenbaum said he supports the consideration of race. in college admis- sions, he welcomes the chance to address the court. "I think the three-judge panel decided it correctly, but I welcome the opportunity to present the entire case to the entire court," he said. George Washington, an attorney with the Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action, Integration, and Immigration and Fight for Equality By Any Means Necessary, said BAMN's brief for the case is due on Oct. 11 and Attorney General Bill Schuette's brief on behalf of the state is due on Dec. 12. Washington, a plaintiff in the case, said he expects the case to be heard in the spring. While Washington said he would have preferred the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to not re-hear the case, he believes his cause will prevail. "I think we're going to win," he said. "I think they decided to take it because it's an important case for the entire county. Now I think there will be a mass mobilization." Washington emphasized that even if affirmative action isn't outlawed when the case is heard, minority students who would have been admitted in the spring will be the ones who "pay the price." Kate Stenvig, a Rackham graduate and leading member of the Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action by Any Means Neces- sary, said today's decision to hear the case again will spur much activity by support- ers of affirmative action. "We're just going to keep fighting until we win," she said. "We're determined to build a movement strong enough to win and increase minority enrollment now." Stenvig added that BAMN will organize marches at the University and around the state as it has in the past. She pointed to the 2003 U.S. Supreme Court case in which it ruled in favor of the University's use of affirmative action in admissions. "In 2003, everyone was telling us we couldn't win in the Supreme Court. We organized 50,000 people to march on Washington - 20 busloads of students from the University, and more from all over the country," she said. "We won because of that movement and that mobilization." * * RAINY DAY RECRUITMENT Displaced residents grow impatient after wildfires M 1,554 homes destroyed, 17 people missing in Texas BASTROP, Texas (AP) - The number of homes destroyed by a Texas wildfire has risen to 1,554 and is expected to further increase as firefighters enter more areas where the blaze has been extinguished, officials said yesterday. Seventeen peo- ple remain unaccounted for. Bastrop County officials joined by Democratic U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett sought to pro- vide new information to hun- dreds of residents evacuated from their homes a week ago when blustering wind whipped up by Tropical Storm Lee swept across parched, drought-strick- en Texas, helping to spark more than 190 wildfires statewide. The worst of the fires has cons sumed more than 24,000 acres in this area 30 miles southeast of Austin. While sharing the bad news thatthetallyofdestroyedhomes will increase, officials also told some 100 residents who gath- ered at a news conference yes- terday that people would begin going back into the scorched areas today. A detailed plan will allow residents to slowly enter the evacuated areas over the coming week as firefighters and emergency responders ensure the land has properly cooled, hotspots are extinguished and the blaze is contained. Tensions and frustrations boiled over at a similar gather- ing on Saturday when residents demanded to be allowed to return to their neighborhoods to see what remains of their homes and attempt to salvage a few belongings. Many people were given only minutes to evacuate as the raging blaze surrounded homes and neigh- borhoods. Some had time to only gather a few important belongings. Others left with only the clothes on their back. Still, Bastrop County Sher- iff Terry Pickering said there was no immediate concern for the lives of the 17 people who remain unaccounted for. "They could have been on vacation," he said. George Helmke, 77, a retired Delta airlines gate agent, is scheduled to return to his home on Thursday. A police roadblock some 150 yards from his home is preventing him from accessing his property even though there is no fire damage. "It's almost inhumane and I'm very frustrated," Helmke said. "They've had us out eight days already." Engineering junior Steven Polowy advertises his club, Michigan Submarines, to students walking through this years Festifall on the Diag on Sept. 9. Evacuati on order i fted in days following Penn. flooding Thousands allowed to return to their homes as waters recede HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Tens of thousands of people forced from their homes in Penn- sylvania were allowed to return Saturday as the Susquehanna River receded from some of the highest floodwaters ever seen, swollen by remnants of Tropical Storm Lee. Other residents evacuated from river towns in New York and Maryland were waiting for permission to return as officials surveyed flooding damage. In northeastern Pennsylva- nia, officials lifted an evacua- tion order Saturday afternoon for as many as 60,000 of 70,000 residents in and around Wilkes- Barre. The rest would likely be able to return later Saturday and into yesterday, said Luzerne County Emergency Manage- ment Agency Director Stephen Bekanich. The Susquehanna's level had dropped to about 32 feet Saturday morning and was expected to be back within its banks at about 29 feet, Luzerne County Commis- sioner Maryanne Petrilla said. Bekanich estimated damage was in the tens of millions - but could have been more than $3 bil- lion if levees hadn't held. "The levees held," Bekanich said. "The levees performed mag- nificently." Much of the Northeast was still soggy from Hurricane Irene and its aftermath a week earlier by the time Lee's rainy remnants arrived. The Susquehanna crested Thursday at nearly 42.7 feet in Wilkes-Barre, higher than the record set during catastrophic Hurricane Agnes in 1972, and at 25.7 feet in Binghamton, N.Y. The river reached a 15-year high of 32.4 feet Friday at the Conowingo Dam in northeastern Maryland. At least 15 deaths have been blamed on Lee and its aftermath: seven in Pennsylvania, three in Virginia, one in Maryland, and four others killed when it came ashore on the Gulf Coast last week. Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett said Saturday state offi- cials had received reports of five additional deaths from the storm, but that the circumstances of those deaths had not been con- firmed. President Barack Obama declared states of emergency in Pennsylvania and New York, opening the way for federal aid. Binghamton Mayor Matt Ryan said officials were working on modifying evacuation orders issued in flood-prone neigh- borhoods so that people whose homes weren't flooded could pos- sibly return over the weekend. Some of the 20,000 evacuated Binghamton-area residents had begun returning Friday. a MAYRA BELTRAN/AP Montgomery fire firefighter Reed Griffith crosses the fire south of Todd Mission, Texas in Waller County on Wednes- day, Sept. 7,2011.