Now It’s ‘Count Everybody’

From William Lucy — Secretary-Treasurer

Last year, every person living in the United States was asked to stand up and be counted in the census, which takes place every 10 years, as required by the Constitution. The census is the largest peacetime mobilization of personnel in the history of our government. At a cost close to $7 billion, last year’s census involved 1.5 billion pieces of paper, with some 860,000 workers attempting to reach an estimated 275 million people living in 120 million households across the country.

Conducting an accurate count of every man, woman and child living in every city, town and neighborhood is a Herculean task. More important, the details gathered from the census are critical. Census numbers determine how the 435 congressional seats are distributed, with highly populated states receiving more seats. States that gain residents stand a chance of adding one or more seats. Conversely, states that lose population may also lose a congressman or woman, lowering the volume of their voices when it’s time to cast a vote on Capitol Hill.

In addition, census figures determine the annual distribution of approximately $180 billion in federal funding. Numbers gathered by census takers are used to make a wide variety of decisions affecting where schools and hospitals are needed; where new highways or improved roads would be useful; where senior centers should be built. An accurate count is a crucial element in making sure communities receive the services they need — and the jobs that come with them.

FOR ACCURACY’S SAKE. In 1990, eight million Americans were missed by the census. Another four million were double-counted. That is why, in the years and months leading to Census 2000, AFSCME worked hard to make sure our members were counted. We wanted to be sure working families participated. We spoke loudly and often about the importance of "sampling," the method most likely to obtain an accurate count.

Still, from a survey conducted last month, the Census Bureau estimates that 3.3 million people were missed by last year’s count. It seems that questions about the accuracy of the survey could take months to unravel, leaving the bureau unable to adjust its data. Shortly thereafter, the Bush administration announced that the unadjusted count would serve as the official census data for distributing congressional seats and funding.

For communities affected by the undercount, that decision to side step corrected numbers, in favor of totals that the Census Bureau admits are inaccurate, represents a severe financial blow that will resonate for a decade. According to an authoritative study, the undercount will cost 169 metro areas an estimated $11.1 billion — an average of $3,391 per undercounted individual.

The undercount means a loss of real money and real programs, servicing real people. It means reduced access to supplemental nutritional programs for women and children; less assistance for crime victims, fewer job training opportunities for workers; a slimmed-down Head Start program; and fewer airport improvements.

The affect of these losses will be greatest in the urban areas that are home to millions of low-income families and people of color. They are the group most likely to be missed by the census, because they will feel the affect of the states’ reduced funding while simultaneously losing their own money to other areas within the state.

NOT JUST CITIES. But the suburbs also have a vital stake in this issue. Persistent undercounts there will translate into losses of resources suburbs sorely need — for more highways, public transit, flood control and the like.

Beyond geography-based interests, the undercount of one group of Americans affects all others. It disturbs the peace of mind that comes from living near a quality hospital or of traveling on roads that are safe and well maintained. Filling out a census questionnaire is very much like filling out a ballot. Through both, we express our vision, hopes and desires for our families, our neighborhoods and our nation.

So maybe we shouldn’t be surprised that the Bush administration doesn’t want to count every American. Last November, Bush made clear that it was okay to ignore tens of thousands of votes, robbing citizens of their right to elect a legitimate President. Today, he’s saying it is also okay to ignore millions of others and to leave whole communities unrepresented, unheard and under-funded. Not using the most accurate census data we can produce is just par for George Bush’s course.