Heritage’s Conservative Bloggers’ Briefing was honored to have North Carolina Representative Patrick McHenry (R) speak to some thirty or so young conservative bloggers, journalists and activists. Rep. McHenry represents North Carolina’s 10th Congressional District and is Ranking Member on the Census Subcommittee. During his discussion with those in attendance, the Congressman focused on some recent behind-the-scenes political maneuvering regarding the upcoming U.S. Census count.
Rep. McHenry mentioned past attempts by liberals in Congress to abandon the Census Bureau’s time honored standard of a “hard count” for a statistical sampling. The overwhelming problem of statistical sampling the Congressman said, was the Census Bureau itself is certain the sampling data will be incorrect and be an under-count of the U.S. population. Politically it’s even worse, as the Census information is the basis for the number of seats states receive in the House of Representatives and is also used for redistricting purposes.
McHenry also spoke about his concerns over the recent disclosure of ACORN, the Association of Community Organizers for Reform Now, being made a “National Partner” in the 2010 Census. ACORN is mostly known for numerous charges and convictions related to voter registration. This raises a concern about having them anywhere near the Census.
This is not the first time concern over the integrity of the Census has come up in the Obama Administration. Earlier this year, Commerce Secretary Designate Judd Gregg, a New Hampshire Senator, removed his name for consideration over a plan to move the Census from its traditional place in the Commerce Department to a ‘non-partisan agency’ overseen by the White House Chief of Staff; the hard-line Democratic partisan, Rahm Emanuel.
Rep. McHenry hoped to see the White House leave the Census as non-political as possible, and pledged to do all he could in his position to ensure no games were played with the official count of the American populace.
