Census counting all -- citizens or not

The 2010 census will count the undocumented.

Sen. David Vitter, a Louisiana Republican, advanced a plan to prevent the Census Bureau from counting noncitizens.

The Senate's Democrats blocked that in a 60-39 vote today.

The census not only is the basis for apportioning congressional districts for the coming decade, but also becomes a guide for the distribution of billions of dollars in federal aid.

Critics complained that Vitter's plan would discourage immigrants from participating in the census, with law long recognizing that congressional districts are drawn by population. The Constitution calls for a census based on the "whole number of persons" residing in a state.

See the report on the 2010 census in the Swamp.

-- Mark Silva

Comments

[Stephen]

The census is held to determine proper representation in congress and for determining budget needs. Illegal aliens should NOT be considered in any of this. It is nothing more than a power grab by democrats to maintain their power base which has a large number of illegals.

[Ken Engle]

The politicians would sell their own mother if they thought it would keep them in office. If we keep letting these undocumented in this country we will find ourselves pushed out of your homes and off your land again. This will happen! History will repeat itself...My indian tribe called our forced exodus from our land and homes the trail of tears, what will you call yours? Oh I forgot, yes we did get paid for the land .02 cents per acre...Ha! Ha! Ha!

[Randy L. AZ Resident]

Protest ilegal aliens in AMerica:

DO NOT RETURN YOUR CENSUS OR PARTICIPATE IN ANY WAY.

[Frank]

Citizens or not, states still have to come up with the money somehow to pay for services or risk budget shortcomings as we in Ca are experiencing now. If the non-citizens were counted properly last time in Ca we likely wouldn't be in the fiscal budget mess we have been in for the past 5 years. The Constitution says they must be counted, and so they shall be. Whether you accept it or not, non-citizens form an essential part of many small business models. And that includes hypocrite Republicans.

[Really?]

Wait, if undocumented workers don't vote, how are they part of a power base?

[anonymous]

Interesting on the budget needs...California which is undisputed to have a significant immigrant population that is here illegally received .78 (that's SEVENTY-EIGHT CENTS) for every dollar that we contribute to the Federal Tax Base...Alaska...to my knowledge - far,far,far away from the border with Mexico receives $1.84 for every dollar that they contribute...or how about Montana - they receive $1.47 for every dollar that they contribute...Mississippi receives $2.02 for every dollar that they contribute. Last time I checked Alaska, Montana and Mississipi are states that generally vote Republican.
Do your civic duty and take the time to read the constitution - it requires that EVERY PERSON be counted, that is the LAW.

[P J Evans]

The census has, historically, counted noncitizens., and in some years it asked the citizenship status (as a yes/no question).

I wish members of Congress would become familiar with the subjects of their speeches before they make fools of themselves.

[Uncle Bernie]

Illegals are bleeding California dry and I am glad. A blue state swirling down the drain is quite a sight.

[Brittanicus]

Sen. Vitter's and Bennett had it right in banning illegal aliens from the Census, because SANCTUARY STATES will get a big chunk of Uncle Sam's funding. Small states will not only lose congressional seats, but federal money for its infrastructure and other desperate needs. But then SANCTUARY STATES AND CITIES need large gout's of cash, to pay for all the government benefits needed to sustain the huge illegal immigrant populations in California, Nevada, Texas and New Mexico.

WITHOUT ANY FEAR OF CONTRADICTION ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION WAS NEVER MEANT TO BE STOPPED. Very few politicians have tried to halt the occupancy by foreign invaders to our country? This is why the E-Verify mechanism was never mandated, owing to the fact that Americans are last to be a priority, specially the 15.3 million jobless workers. Already Hispanic Caucuses have confronted President Obama at the White House, with the chair of the House Rules Committee indicating they are giving the Caucuses what they have adamantly demanded. Rep. Louise Slaughter D-N.Y indicated that the House will have to vote on a bill that allows illegal aliens to use the new health care "exchange". A loophole that does not require verification to keep illegal aliens out of the other parts of the proposed new federal health care system. Please call all House-Senate Members and urge them to vote against the rule that provides a weak verification mechanism that still allows illegal aliens to purchase insurance from the health care exchange. WE MUST JAM THE SWITCHBOARDS IN WASHINGTON, PUSHING OUR OWN DEMANDS at 202-224-3121 that bars illegal aliens from the health care insurance "exchange" YOUR VOICE IS MAKING AN IMMENSE DIFFERENCE TO HOW THE POLITICIANS VOTE? WARN THEM OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF IGNORING PUBLIC OPINION.

Other pieces of information contributing to the dilemma of US legal population: Senate Census allows to Count Illegal Aliens for Congressional Districting . CBO Says New Health Care Bill Would Cover 2.5 Million More Illegal Aliens. Sen. Reid Kills E-Verify Amendment to Unemployment extension Bill. Pro-Enforcement Candidates win in Virginia and New Jersey. 68% of Americans Oppose Sanctuary Cities

You can learn about the corruption and incompetence of lawmakers at NUMBERSUSA. Court cases, political sleaze and immigration non-enforcement at JUDICIAL WATCH. How population growth will effect future generations at CAPSWEB. NO BLANKET AMNESTY!