Rep. Bachmann Refuses To Fill Out 2010 Census

By: Prerana Swami
Topics: In The News

(AP)

Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann told the Washington Times that she and her family will not be fully filling out the 2010 census forms.

Bachmann, a Republican, said her family will only be indicating the number of people in the household, because "the Constitution doesn't require any information beyond that."

Bachmann believes the upcoming census to be "very intricate" and "very personal" and expresses concerns about ACORN's involvement in the data collection. The community organizing program came under scrunity after charges of voter registration fraud during the 2008 presidential elections.

"I think what the threat of ACORN would be deluding the ballot box and the effectiveness of our vote," she said. "They will be in charge of going door to door and collecting data from the American public, this is very concerning."

Bachmann also expressed frustration at the president's backing for ACORN, saying he has supplied $8.4 billion to ACORN since he has come into office, a number that far surpasses the $53 million given in the past 15 years.

"ACORN has received $53 million from 1994 to today, but now, since President Obama has come into office, he is making available $8.5 billion – with a 'b' - to ACORN, an organization that is repeatedly under indictment for voter fraud in multiple states across the country," Bachmann said. "This is the last organization that should have the taxpayer's wallet open to them but unfortunately, under President Obama, he is multiplying the amount of money available to them."

Bachmann has claimed the $8.5 billion available multiple times, but it should be noted that the St. Petersburg Times' affiliated fact check Web site, Politifact.com, disputes its accuracy.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Bachmann may be in trouble if she fails to fill out the entire census. Spokeswoman Shelly Lowe told the Washington Times that anyone over the age of 18 must fill out all the questions and any such person who refuses to answer "any of the questions" faces a $5,000 fine.

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by g9iron January 20, 2011 11:28 PM EST: I read where Michelle Bachman is going to Iowa to address the Iowa Republican Party Members as to whether she has any support for a Presidential Candidacy...I was born and raised in Minnesota, and left to serve my country for 21 plus years in the Navy, then I worked for the The Department of the Navy for 14 years....From what I understand A Lady from my State of Minnesota wants the people in Minnesota to grab your ""Guns and be ready to take back Our country"" What I am also wondering is where or who has taken ""OUR COUNTRY "" from us...What I am also wondering, is all of the people in my great State of Minnesota ever going to want a person like her or Sarah Palin to Lead our United States of America...I really believe that their is surely someone other then Michelle Backman or Sarah Palin in the Republican Party to represent their Party other then these two.....What have they ever done that has moved Our Great Country Forward by some of their actions....I feel that myself and many thousands of my Military comrades would not want these two to be ""OUR COMMANDER -IN CHIEF""...I really hope that the people of Minnesota check her out to see if she is for real or a headline Grabber....Her Theories just don't make sense to me....Do you think that we as a Country want the Health Care Program repealed so those that are already suffering, should be placed in a position where they have no Chance to survive....Lets watch and see but be alert...BZ; Reply to this comment

by eaglecry August 14, 2010 1:58 PM EDT

The conservative party has all the hot women. The left is home to the most wretched hags such as Hillary Clinton, Rosie O'Donnell, and Nancy Pelosi. We have Megyn Kelly. Elizabeth Hasselbeck, Amanda Carpenter (MMM), and Sarah Palin........ha ha ha....

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by DontCryLilBaby March 6, 2011 2:41 PM EST: Based on your reply, I would say the conservative party also knows just how to manipulate its voters. "Ger her! We have the hot chicks! Ger her!"

I'm always amazed by the dandies who name just a handful of women and sum it up as the entire party for each side. That's our education system for you. This is what happens when you throw out critical thinking, throw out The Enlightenment, and cram in Intelligent Design.

No wonder other countries are passing us up in technology and science.

"Our chicks are hotter! Not that they are actually MY chicks, but I can pertend! Ger her!"


by marianov4 August 1, 2010 4:45 PM EDT: The census is conducted to determine the number of seats a state will get for Representatives as well as determining funding for federally mandated programs. So if you feel the questions are intrusive and you don't want to answer home ownership, race, and age questions. that is your right. However, you city or town will not receive the federal funds for your schools, libraries, senior housing, etc that the federal goverment contibutes money to. Furthermore, for the hypocrytes that feel that the information is intrusive, look yourself up on google, facebook, whitepages.com and see how much information is available about you and your family for anyone who wants to know. Personally, I would rather my town get the correct amount of funds for schools, seniors, and other groups that there are federal mandated programs for. I think that rep. Bachman is ignorant, contrary, and sending the wrong message to her constituents. This is not 1950, it is 2010 and people should just comply and provide the information. We are fortunate to be citizens of this great country - if you don't want to comly with the census, why don't you just go somewhere else...; Reply to this comment

by ernest25 June 5, 2010 3:10 PM EDT

This woman is grossly irresponsible. The Census uses the statistics to distribute Federal money to municipalities and states. It has been conducted since 1790 and only two questions have changed in like the last 150 years or so. If you disagree with the system and taxes fine but you are only hurting yourself because the Federal government will just send your tax money somewhere else. The Census may accept forms mailed in with little info but they will not if they come to your door. They will get the info from a neighbor or a landlord. And if you refuse at the door, they workers will research everything about you until they find a way to call you or someone knowledgeable. If you are concerned about privacy answer the questions. That would be far less intrusive.

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by jeppes July 22, 2010 5:28 PM EDT: Actually you are grossly ignorant. The constitutional amendment that requires the census to be done, only and clearly asks for the number of residents living within a legal address. The rest of the information is not a constitutional requirement. In order for the rest of the information to be legally required, the legislative body of the US government would have to get and the same page and agree to it and then amend the law as written.. Perhaps you have just missed the 6 page version.


by jax5570 June 3, 2010 4:58 PM EDT: You know how many millions of people feel just the opposite and we are younger and will be around long after so there!; Reply to this comment


by jax5570 June 3, 2010 4:56 PM EDT: Question to those who are all bothered by the census, did you have a problem 10 years ago when you were asked the same stuff by the Bush administration or 10 years before that when asked by the Bush administration or 10 years before that when the Reagan administration asked you even more questions?
Get a clue folks!; Reply to this comment


by fedupwithlies2 June 2, 2010 9:13 PM EDT: The truth is the Federal Law is in Violation of the United States Constitutin. Backman should just sue the U.S. governemnt for a fe bilion (that is a B) that they freely give to ACORN.
Then get this huge violation over turned in the courts. The U.S. Constitutino trumps the little Federal Law every time.. sorry ACORN; Reply to this comment

by whowaaa May 27, 2010 7:07 PM EDT

to you liberal insane people..and to the PROGRESSIVES of BOTH PARTYS...you are the problem...ill prove it....why didnt the democrata pass the health care bill on there own with a super majority?..they needed NO republican...it was because of PROGRESSIVES...you see there are two partys in the democratic party...they dcant tell becuase the progresasive has been in it for ocer a 100 years...slowly twisting it into a socialist marxist party...they are ALSO in the republican party...teddy rosevelt was one..and so was BUSH!!! and that my little idiots is a history leason you all need to understand..then you will understand why we refuse to fill out A racist FORM ...there is a REASON for it..and its not what they say ..it is for positioning for the voter...this is illegal.. but with progressives they change the law..they say the constitution is a living document ...by that they can change the law to fit there view..get it?...understanding the lies yet?.. they are in BOTH partys ..we as a NATION MUST throw them out...

id you think obama is so great can you tell me why he HELPED set up the chicago climate exchage?.. did you know al gore owns part of it ...so does goldman sach..research progressive president woodrow wilson...learn what we are going to become....if you like france ..you better go there cause its going to be more free than us soon enough...keep you heads in the sand ..dont belive me ...it is comming with a vengence...have you even heard of the things comming out of that great health care bill yet?. as a contractor ,,im going to be bankrupt because of it...cant wait...we all will be soon enough....

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by fedupwithlies2 June 2, 2010 9:21 PM EDT: honey honey honey...do YOU have ANY idea how many people out here feel EXACTLY like YOU???? millions....we are the "silent" majority and we have awaken.....we are We the People and here we come..


by ernest25 June 5, 2010 3:12 PM EDT: I don't think paranoid schizophrenics make up a majority.

by D_old_man May 20, 2010 8:45 AM EDT

My name, gender, domicile status, birthdate, "Race" -- These do NOT affect reapportionment in any way. None! The only thing that affects it is NUMBER OF PEOPLE. Therefore, that is the only information that they will get. If you're gonna give me extra representation for the other info, great. But you won't, you won't get the info.

Maybe it's time for Massive protest.

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by ag703 May 27, 2010 7:44 AM EDT: Actually, you're wrong! Because some federal program funds are distributed on the basis of age (programs for youth or seniors, etc.), gender, or race, all of the questions on the census are valid and important. I'm a census enumerator out in the field dealing with folks like yourself, and I learned this in training.

by michaeldunnjr April 15, 2010 11:24 AM EDT

Nice misleading headline CBS. "Rep. Bachmann Refuses To Fill Out 2010 Census" No, she didn't. She refused to FULLY fill it out. Yay for sensationalizing the story!

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