Dollars and Census - Why It Matters

Martha Lockett came to Dallas from Mexico 20 years ago. She's now a U.S. citizen and considers the census count a matter of pride.

"They can count us, so we can be someone here," she said.

CBS News correspondent Don Teague reports Lockett is part of the shifting population in America. In a generation's time, minorities will become the majority.

"This is a matter of naked self interest, said Censusdata showing people moving out of the city and into suburbs.

The census also helps determine where schools, hospitals and even businesses should be built.

Likewise, it determines how many representatives each state sends to Congress - and how much money Washington sends back.

Over $400 billion in federal funding is disseminated every year based on the census count. So every household that's missed, every person that's missed - that's less funding for that community for their emergency services, for their schools, for their roads.

That's why volunteers are going door-to-door urging wary residents to fill out their forms - especially poor and immigrant populations.

Census Campaign Targets Tech-Savvy Hispanic Youth

"It's really about power and money," said Janet Muguia of La Raza. "We want to make sure that the Latino community is included when we paint that picture of America."

By law, information about individuals cannot be shared with other government agencies. The 10 question form mailed to 120 million households is designed to create snap-shots of communities across America. For example how many people live in each household? Their ages? And their sex?

But there are also questions about race, and ethnicity - which some say isn't the government's business.

"I'm a little concerned about the race issue," said Suzan Fulton. "It seems like in this day and age, government, media, they want to separate people."

Federal officials call it everyone's civic duty to answer the questions on the census and then return the form. They have the power to fine people who don't comply -- up to $5,000. But rely instead on a massive public relations campaign urging Americans to be counted.

[Superstarzchef]

We should ALL NOT return our Census forms, so the Federal government is complelled to "reallotcate" these crooks right outta their jobs. We need more Honest Senators/Congressmen in office. Not political machine lackeys who are basically pawns of their respective partys "stance". Nothing is getting accomplished, Americans are suffering, and still they steal their "earmarks", and only raise or pass legislation when its time to be re-elected.