For Immediate Release
Tuesday, January 26, 1999
Statement By AFSCME President Gerald W. McEntee on Census Decision by the U. S. Supreme Court
WASHINGTON —AFSCME President Gerald W. McEntee issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to reject the use of scientific sampling for the 2000 census.
“The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision was both encouraging and disappointing. AFSCME is encouraged by the fact that the decision requires the Secretary of Commerce to use statistical sampling, if feasible, to distribute federal funds and in the drawing of political boundaries within the states.
“However, the Court’s narrow decision to prohibit the use of sampling in the apportionment of seats among the states was a major disappointment. This was the perfect opportunity for the court to ensure a fair and accurate census count and correct decades of under-representation of the poor, minorities and children.
“AFSCME, the largest union of public employees in the country, is deeply committed to the production and use of accurate census data. We trust that after reviewing the decision, the administration will not waver in its commitment to using scientific statistical sampling in order to achieve the most accurate census possible, a commitment reiterated by President Clinton last week in his State of the Union Address. We will also urge Congress to put politics aside and fully fund a census that will meet the Bureau’s legal obligations, under both the Supreme Court’s decision and under the Census Act, to use statistical sampling in determining the population for every purpose other than apportionment of the seats of the House among the several states.”
