An attempt to derail next year’s Census process
and deprive states of billions of dollars
OPPOSE VITTER-BENNETT SA 2644.
Senators David Vitter (R-LA) and Robert Bennett (R-UT) have offered an amendment that would force the Census Bureau to literally stop the presses in order to add an additional question asking participants to declare their legal status in this country.
The amendment would prohibit the use of funds by the Department of Commerce for collection of census data that does not include questions regarding U.S. citizenship and immigration status. The Vitter-Bennett language is intrusive and will raise concerns among all respondents about the confidentiality and privacy of information provided to the government.
This will deter many residents (both U.S. citizens and legal immigrants) from responding and will result in an inaccurate Census count.
Action:
Please contact Sen. Klobuchar and Sen. Franken and urge them to oppose Vitter-Bennett, SA2644 to H.R. 2847
Sen. Klobuchar: 202-224-3244; http://klobuchar.senate.gov/emailamy.cfm
Sen. Franken: 202-224-5641; E-mail: info@franken.senate.gov
Please forward this message to friends and relatives who share your concern about an accurate 2010 Census.
Why should the Vitter-Bennett Amendment be OPPOSED?
It would derail the 2010 Census and prevent the forms from being mailed (as scheduled for April 2010) since it would require a reprinting of the entire form (not just adding an extra page or card).
It would require using a different question than what is currently used in the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS).
It would prevent Congressional reapportionment until after 2010 and redistricting of congressional and state legislative districts.
It would waste $7 billion in research, planning, and preparation that has already occurred for Census 2010.
The Census is about counting people, not counting voters. The 14th Amendment mandates that everyone must be counted in the Census, even non-voters.
We need an accurate count of how many people are in our country; that means encouraging everyone to be counted, not discouraging them.
Further information: http://reyes.house.gov/Blog/
Information from:
Sergio España
(202) 263-1352
League of Women Voters - US
