House OKs bill to curb political interference with census

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House passed legislation Thursday intended to make it harder for future presidents to interfere with the once-a-decade census that determines political power and federal funding, a move that comes in response to the Trump’s administration’s failed effort to make a citizenship question part of the 2020 headcount.

The legislation was approved 220-208 with only Democratic lawmakers voting for it. The bill requires the Commerce secretary to certify to Congress that any new question sought on a future census be adequately studied and tested, and that the Government Accountability Office conduct a review of the certification.

It also seeks to limit political influence by mandating that a U.S. Census Bureau director can be fired only in cases of neglect of duty or malfeasance in office. It vests the director with all technical, operational and statistical decisions and says a deputy director has to be a career staffer with experience in demographics, statistics or related fields.

“Partisan manipulation of the census is simply wrong," said Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., who chairs the Committee on Oversight and Reform, which investigated the Trump administration's efforts to add the citizenship question. “My bill would protect the census and ensure this cannot happen again regardless of which party is in power."

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/house-oks-bill-to-curb-political-interference-with-census/ar-AA11SECd

[peppertree]

1. Bring to mind of an incident, as an enumerator in the 2000 Census

I knock on the door, in an Orange County, CA, townhome complex, and this 40-something, sunburned bleach-blonde steps out and barks "yes - whaddaya want!?"

I tell her.

"I'm not filling out Clinton's census," she snarls.

"All the better," I said.

*slams door*

Dutiful enumerator that I was - I followed instructions in cases of a hostile respondent, and simply filled out the info to the best of my knowledge (luckily, it was the short form).

But I can't help but suspect that, if a Democrat is president for the 2030 Census - by then, you'll have millions of Repugs refusing to participate en masse.

To "own the libs," you know?

To which I say: All the better.

[SouthernDem4ever]

2. Republicans are just thoroughly disgusting

and fascist.

[Backseat Driver]

3. I hope this legislation will accomplish what was determined to be necessary, so TFG's discriminatory

debacle won't happen again with this important questionnaire. My concern would be in the length of time needed to "prove" neglect of duty or malfeasance in office," as well as vetting time needed for that deputy director when one says "related fields. I've seen the length of time it's taking to investigate HIS and other elected/appointed congressional malfeasance in office. Perhaps even the for-life serving SCOTUSs might have an opinion or two on whether this would indeed protect and ensure it won't happen again. I sure have an opinion or two about some of their fitness for office.

[Martin68]

4. Very important. Trump actually damaged the process, and innacurate results ensued.