According to Wikipedia the Census bureau’s primary mission is conducting the U.S. Census every ten years, which allocates the seats of the U.S. House of Representatives to the states based on their population.The Bureau’s various censuses and surveys help allocate over $400 billion in federal funds every year and it helps states, local communities, and businesses make informed decisions..
The U.S. census is at the heart of our electoral process according to the TIME magazine article I read. It not only determines how political districts are drawn, but which Americans are counted and how federal dollars – allocated per capita are distributed. And a long list of important decisions rely on an accurate census.
But soon, the U. S. Census Bureau will be leaderless!
The 30 year Director of the Census Bureau is quitting the end of June. Colleagues suggest he was hobbled by pressure from Congress about cost overruns on a new Internet-based questionnaire and of course uncertainty about support from the new administration.
TIME points out the Census Bureau being “rudderless” with the 2020 census looming creates a major concern. Without strong experienced leadership the 2020 census could lack the integrity American’s have always demanded.
Donald Trump is not responsible for the Director leaving, but he will be the person to appoint the successor. Our President’s track record thus far for appointments has been shaky at best. This position might be as important as any he has ever filled.
Congress had already indicated a desire to under fund the Census Bureau when in April it allocated less than half the budget increase requested. With the austere new federal budget being proposed under funding seems to be a certainty.
Experts say if you under fund the census you get an under count and when you under count you lose the “hard to find populations.”
Yikes!
At a time when we need integrity and accuracy in our government we find the Census Bureau – an institution American’s have believed in and respected all our lives in danger of becoming a political football.
The United States needs a census we can trust. A compromised census will create even more chaos!
I’m Steve Sauder and there’s something to think about!
