Political Quotes

“H.R. 472 has a goal. But that goal is not to achieve a fair and accurate census count, and it is not to use the best scientific methods available. It is to derail the Census Bureau's plans of using statistical sampling, the only method which would remedy the undercount of minorities, children, and the rural and urban poor. By instituting a post-census check, not only will the Census Bureau's work be set back for more than a month, the Bureau would miss its apportionment deadline set by December 31, 2000, and deplete funds necessary for statistical sampling. I do not know whether this is the intent, but this is clearly the effect. Both Democrats and Republicans in the past have acknowledged that a post-census local review such as H.R. 472 mandates will not work. It was clearly demonstrated in the 1990 census, and that is why the Bush administration's director of the Census Bureau stated that the post-census local review in 1990 was a well-intentioned but ineffective operation. We support local government participation, but not as a mechanism to delay and divert the basic intent of the census.”