Politics

GOP Wins Census Battle

By CBSNews.com staff CBSNews.com staff

March 2, 2001 / 7:35 AM EST / CBS

Commerce Secretary Don Evans Tuesday ruled out adjusting 2000 census figures to add millions of uncounted people for use in the contentious redrawing of national congressional districts.

"We have achieved a quality count," said Evans, praising census workers whose "toil and…sweat set a very high standard on the issue of whether to statistically adjust."

At a Washington news conference, Evans called the initial figures the most accurate census in the history of the nation and said his decision on not adjusting the count is in line with advice received from the Census Bureau.

"I concluded that the recommendation of the Census Bureau professionals and Acting Director (William) Barron was correct and prudent," said Evans. "Thus we will send unadjusted data to the states for the purpose and only the purpose of redistricting."

Democrats and civil rights groups have argued that by not allowing adjusted figures, the election districts based on the 2000 census will effectively disenfranchise millions of people, many of whom already feel their votes were not counted in last November's disputed presidential election.

Redistricting, a reflection of population changes, has traditionally been a highly partisan issue as parties have tended to use the process to draw district lines to their advantage.

It has taken on added weight this year as both parties vie for any advantage in one of the most closely divided Congresses in history.

Republicans however contend that adjusting the count could inject more errors into a 2000 census already proven to be more nearly accurate than the census a decade ago. GOP opponents of a count adjustment also say the Constitution calls only for an "actual enumeration."

A Census Bureau survey following the 2000 tally estimated a net undercount of 1.2 percent of Americans, or about 3.4 million people. That's compared to a net undercount of 1.6 percent of the 1990 population, or about 4 million people.

The first numbers are expected to be released on a state-by-state basis later this week, and all states must have their redistricting data by April 1.

The numbers will be used by state lawmakers to redraw congressional district boundaries to reflect population shifts, as is required every 10 years.

States will be able to use the figures to remap state and local legislative district boundaries as well. Also, the numbers could be used to redistribute over $185 billion in federal dollars given each year to states.

Members of both parties have said district lines redrawn with adjusted data could add more Democratic-leaning minorities to voter rolls, and could threaten the GOP's narrow House majority.

All sides agree the dispute is not over and is likely to next pop up in the courts.