Guest Column (Mar 2010)
Posted by South Mountain Villager on February 23, 2010
Column by U.S. Rep. Ed Pastor
Ed Pastor
The dawn of the new decade is an exciting time in government as communities nationwide await the Census count of the country’s residents. Census forms will be arriving in homes this month and I would like to emphasize the importance of filling out the forms promptly and returning them in the mail.
There are good reasons not to let the Census forms gather dust. A solid census count can benefit Arizona with fair representation, financially and legislatively.
For example, after the 2000 Census Count, Arizona gained two congressional seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, giving the state more muscle in the nation’s capital. There are only 435 seats in the House of Representatives and after each Census; the allocation of seats to each state is adjusted according to population.
A few missing forms can make a huge difference. Newspaper reports show that Utah fell about 80 people short of gaining a new Congressional seat after the 2000 Census. Instead, the seat went to North Carolina.
Our Electoral College system of selecting our U.S. president uses the Census count to determine how many electors each state will receive to choose our next head of state.
Just as importantly, Arizona’s share of federal funds allocated to individual states depends on an accurate count. The federal government allocates more than $400 billion to states and communities each year, based, in part, on census data. Each person counted amounts to about $1,550 for the state, according to the Maricopa Association of Governments. Funding benefits areas ranging from education to housing to child care and transportation. It also helps provide data about our communities to help government and other agencies address residents’ needs and plan the sites of schools, hospitals and community centers, for example.
As a reminder, the 2010 Census consists of only 10 questions and takes about 10 minutes to complete. Households are asked to provide key demographic information, including: whether a housing unit is rented or owned; the address of the residence; and the names, genders, ages and races of others living in the household.
If you have questions about the questionnaire, call the Telephone Questionnaire Assistance center at 1-866-872-6868. (If you prefer a Spanish-speaking operator, then dial 1-866-928-2010.) The lines will be open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week from Feb. 25 to July 30.
By law, the Census Bureau cannot share an individual’s responses with anyone, including other federal agencies and law enforcement entities.
As always, should you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact my Phoenix District Office at 602-256-0551.
