The Census

[kuhio98]

You do have to question why it was so high on his priority list and what he plans to do..

With all the huge problems we have right now, I'm concerned that this seems to be such a high priority for the administration right now.

[Edwina's Secretary]

I heard about this last week or so on the news when the discussion was about the pick for Commerce Secretary.

The Commerce Department will be very busy with the stimulus package implementation too, but I am suspecting Obama himself will not be supervising the counting if it reports to the White House.

Census - a dirty job but somebody has to do it!

[Grace]

Actually, it appears he is just being kind to Mr. Gregg - since the Census is under the jurisdiction of the Commerce Department.

According to the NY Times (2/4/09),

Mr. Gregg was never a friend of the census. As chairman of the Senate committee that oversees the Commerce Department’s budget, he frequently tried to cut the bureau’s financing. In 1999, he opposed emergency funds for the 2000 census requested by President Bill Clinton and the Republican-controlled House.

[Cinder & Smoke]

Actually, it appears he is just being kind to Mr. Gregg ...

According to the NY Times (2/4/09),

Mr. Gregg was never a friend of the census.
As chairman of the Senate committee that oversees the Commerce Department’s budget,
he frequently tried to cut the bureau’s financing. In 1999, he opposed emergency funds
for the 2000 census requested by President Bill Clinton and the Republican-controlled House.

Being "KIND" to Mr. Gregg ???

Seems a lot more likely that the Prez doesn't TRUST Mr. Gregg to do a good job!
Move the Census into a back room at the White House, and the Prez can check the addition.

Remember: The Census determines many important situations >>>
* How many Congressional Reps a State has
* How Federal Aid is passed out
* Thousands of Federal Programs are based upon Census statistics.

A Fair & Accurate Census count is important to everyone.

[Puckstop31]

Being "KIND" to Mr. Gregg ???

Seems a lot more likely that the Prez doesn't TRUST Mr. Gregg to do a good job!
Move the Census into a back room at the White House, and the Prez can check the addition.

Remember: The Census determines many important situations >>>
* How many Congressional Reps a State has
* How Federal Aid is passed out
* Thousands of Federal Programs are based upon Census statistics.

A Fair & Accurate Census count is important to everyone.

Add to this that the Commerce Department has to show their work... Rahm Emanuel does not. He would get to just "estimate" how many people live in certain places.

And I am 100% sure that he would be fair.

[smokey the elder]

Isn't an accurate Census mandated by the Constitution?

[Puckstop31]

Isn't an accurate Census mandated by the Constitution?

Yes.

Article 1 - Sec. 2

"Representatives and direct taxes shall be apportioned among the several states which may be included within this union, according to their respective numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole number of free persons, including those bound to service for a term of years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons. The actual Enumeration shall be made within three years after the first meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent term of ten years, in such manner as they shall by law direct...."

And the 14th Amendment...

"Section 2. Representatives shall be apportioned among the several states according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each state, excluding Indians not taxed. But when the right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for President and Vice President of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the executive and judicial officers of a state, or the members of the legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such state, being twenty-one years of age, and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion, or other crime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such state. "

[lizbud]

Isn't an accurate Census mandated by the Constitution?

Maybe it's because Gregg is a Republican & we all know how they
treated the Constitution for the last eight years. It's safer to handle
the Census in house.