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Wednesday, March 22, 2000
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Census Bureau answers critics
Agency won't prosecute non-filers, 'We don't want to intimidate people'
by Julie Foster
Americans critical of census questions unrelated to obtaining a national head-count were given some answers by Census 2000 Media Relations Director Neil Tillman, who addressed everything from sampling arguments to enforcement actions.
Criticism of the census has revolved around many aspects of the decennial operation, but one of the questions most objected to by critics concerns inquiries into a person's race.
In an exclusive, in-depth WorldNetDaily interview, Tillman explained the reason for race-related questions rests chiefly on the need to reapportion congressional representation -- referring to the Constitution's sole stated purpose for the count. Such inquiries, said Tillman, are made to ensure each congressional district is racially diverse.
Another scrutinized area of questioning relates to transportation. One in six households is asked how residents get to work and how long it takes. WND was told the questions are necessary to provide "quantifiable" data on traffic issues.
Hard numbers, said Tillman, are not "anecdotal" and are the only reliable way to provide the information to Congress who makes funding decisions.
"There's no other way of getting that information [on a national basis]," he said.
Reliability of statistics was foremost on lawmakers' minds last spring when debate erupted over the proposed use of "sampling" to complete the 2000 census. A proponent of the procedure, which involves not an actual enumeration of citizens but rather an estimate based on a sample of surveyed residents, Tillman told WND both methods are being used in the current census operation.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in January that sampling could not be used for the purposes of reapportioning congressional representation, but the process may be used by states when drawing district boundaries, he said.
Sampling is also the method employed to calculate all other information found on the "long form." Only one in every six households receives the 52-question survey asking about occupation, income, transportation and other personal questions, as opposed to the "short form" which requires only name, address, age, date of birth and race.
The estimated or "adjusted" demographics are key to distribution of federal aid, said Tillman.
According to Census Bureau Director Kenneth Prewitt, households that provide government with the mandated information are the glue of America.
"Every household that returns the form does strengthen the ties that do bind us together as a civilized society," Prewitt said a press conference yesterday.
But not everyone agrees. WND has been bombarded with letters from Americans who object ideologically to the redistribution of wealth, and so are returning their census forms having answered only the question regarding the number of individuals in their household.
The penalty for not answering every question on the survey is $100. False answers garner a fine of up to $500. However, the law is unclear as to enforcement of such fines.
Apparently, lack of legal clarity is irrelevant, as Tillman revealed the Census Bureau is not going to collect any such fines.
"The Census Bureau is not an enforcement agency," he said, adding that any enforcement would have to come from the judicial system.
Although Tillman indicated lack of compliance will be handled on a case-by-case basis, he plainly stated the Bureau will not seek prosecution for incomplete forms.
"We don't want to intimidate people [into participating]," he said.
In cases where forms are incomplete, enumerators will contact households and "make every effort" to gather the requested information, but no fines will be levied.
The reason for completing the questionnaire "boils down to being a good citizen," Tillman said.
But citizens are not the only people being asked to participate in Census 2000. Illegal immigrants also are being encouraged to fill out census forms by constant reassurance that answers remain confidential, particularly those regarding citizenship.
Critics argue that federal dollars should not be distributed to illegal immigrants who will benefit from taxpayer-funded programs. But Tillman insists the Bureau is making no special effort to gain compliance from illegal immigrants.
"We're going out of our way to encourage everyone," he emphasized.
The Bureau favors counting illegal immigrants, he added, because "nothing in the Constitution says they should not be counted."
In an attempt to justify the Bureau's position, the media relations director said immigrant children put a "strain on the school system whether the kids are legal or illegal."
But citizenship may not be of consequence, according to critics who suggest a particular version of the "long form" may not be valid.
Each census form is accompanied by a verification number from the White House Office of Management and Budget. Census form D-2 (UL) has OMB number 0607-0856. However, the form is not listed in that OMB classification. As a result, many survey recipients have concluded that the form is invalid.
Tillman, who did not have an explanation for the discrepancy, speculated it was a "gap" on the OMB website.
"They must have left it off [the list]," he said.
However, the form is listed with those pertaining to residents of Puerto Rico. Tillman said he could not speculate about the reasons for the "obvious" error.
Nevertheless, information about the error has quickly made its way into e-mail boxes around the U.S., and many Americans are claiming it as a legal loophole excusing their non-participation in the census.
The fact is, innumerable residents across the country are refusing to participate in the census beyond a simple head-count.
Steve Dasbach, leader of the Libertarian Party, is actually encouraging that practice.
"The U.S. Constitution says the purpose of the census is to make an enumeration; that is, to take an accurate count of Americans for the purpose of apportioning congressional districts," he said.
"But the federal government has gone far beyond that constitutional mandate, and uses the census to ask dozens of probing questions -- including your official government racial classification, how much money you earn, the number of toilets in your home, whether you have trouble bathing, and how many cars you own."
Dasbach said answering only the head-count portion of the census is a way for Americans to "strike a blow for liberty, privacy, and limited government."
------------------
Slowpoke Rodrigo...he pack a gon...
Vote for the Neal Knox 13
Wednesday, March 22, 2000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Census Bureau answers critics
Agency won't prosecute non-filers, 'We don't want to intimidate people'
by Julie Foster
Americans critical of census questions unrelated to obtaining a national head-count were given some answers by Census 2000 Media Relations Director Neil Tillman, who addressed everything from sampling arguments to enforcement actions.
Criticism of the census has revolved around many aspects of the decennial operation, but one of the questions most objected to by critics concerns inquiries into a person's race.
In an exclusive, in-depth WorldNetDaily interview, Tillman explained the reason for race-related questions rests chiefly on the need to reapportion congressional representation -- referring to the Constitution's sole stated purpose for the count. Such inquiries, said Tillman, are made to ensure each congressional district is racially diverse.
Another scrutinized area of questioning relates to transportation. One in six households is asked how residents get to work and how long it takes. WND was told the questions are necessary to provide "quantifiable" data on traffic issues.
Hard numbers, said Tillman, are not "anecdotal" and are the only reliable way to provide the information to Congress who makes funding decisions.
"There's no other way of getting that information [on a national basis]," he said.
Reliability of statistics was foremost on lawmakers' minds last spring when debate erupted over the proposed use of "sampling" to complete the 2000 census. A proponent of the procedure, which involves not an actual enumeration of citizens but rather an estimate based on a sample of surveyed residents, Tillman told WND both methods are being used in the current census operation.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in January that sampling could not be used for the purposes of reapportioning congressional representation, but the process may be used by states when drawing district boundaries, he said.
Sampling is also the method employed to calculate all other information found on the "long form." Only one in every six households receives the 52-question survey asking about occupation, income, transportation and other personal questions, as opposed to the "short form" which requires only name, address, age, date of birth and race.
The estimated or "adjusted" demographics are key to distribution of federal aid, said Tillman.
According to Census Bureau Director Kenneth Prewitt, households that provide government with the mandated information are the glue of America.
"Every household that returns the form does strengthen the ties that do bind us together as a civilized society," Prewitt said a press conference yesterday.
But not everyone agrees. WND has been bombarded with letters from Americans who object ideologically to the redistribution of wealth, and so are returning their census forms having answered only the question regarding the number of individuals in their household.
The penalty for not answering every question on the survey is $100. False answers garner a fine of up to $500. However, the law is unclear as to enforcement of such fines.
Apparently, lack of legal clarity is irrelevant, as Tillman revealed the Census Bureau is not going to collect any such fines.
"The Census Bureau is not an enforcement agency," he said, adding that any enforcement would have to come from the judicial system.
Although Tillman indicated lack of compliance will be handled on a case-by-case basis, he plainly stated the Bureau will not seek prosecution for incomplete forms.
"We don't want to intimidate people [into participating]," he said.
In cases where forms are incomplete, enumerators will contact households and "make every effort" to gather the requested information, but no fines will be levied.
The reason for completing the questionnaire "boils down to being a good citizen," Tillman said.
But citizens are not the only people being asked to participate in Census 2000. Illegal immigrants also are being encouraged to fill out census forms by constant reassurance that answers remain confidential, particularly those regarding citizenship.
Critics argue that federal dollars should not be distributed to illegal immigrants who will benefit from taxpayer-funded programs. But Tillman insists the Bureau is making no special effort to gain compliance from illegal immigrants.
"We're going out of our way to encourage everyone," he emphasized.
The Bureau favors counting illegal immigrants, he added, because "nothing in the Constitution says they should not be counted."
In an attempt to justify the Bureau's position, the media relations director said immigrant children put a "strain on the school system whether the kids are legal or illegal."
But citizenship may not be of consequence, according to critics who suggest a particular version of the "long form" may not be valid.
Each census form is accompanied by a verification number from the White House Office of Management and Budget. Census form D-2 (UL) has OMB number 0607-0856. However, the form is not listed in that OMB classification. As a result, many survey recipients have concluded that the form is invalid.
Tillman, who did not have an explanation for the discrepancy, speculated it was a "gap" on the OMB website.
"They must have left it off [the list]," he said.
However, the form is listed with those pertaining to residents of Puerto Rico. Tillman said he could not speculate about the reasons for the "obvious" error.
Nevertheless, information about the error has quickly made its way into e-mail boxes around the U.S., and many Americans are claiming it as a legal loophole excusing their non-participation in the census.
The fact is, innumerable residents across the country are refusing to participate in the census beyond a simple head-count.
Steve Dasbach, leader of the Libertarian Party, is actually encouraging that practice.
"The U.S. Constitution says the purpose of the census is to make an enumeration; that is, to take an accurate count of Americans for the purpose of apportioning congressional districts," he said.
"But the federal government has gone far beyond that constitutional mandate, and uses the census to ask dozens of probing questions -- including your official government racial classification, how much money you earn, the number of toilets in your home, whether you have trouble bathing, and how many cars you own."
Dasbach said answering only the head-count portion of the census is a way for Americans to "strike a blow for liberty, privacy, and limited government."
------------------
Slowpoke Rodrigo...he pack a gon...
Vote for the Neal Knox 13
