After battling with Democrats to conduct a traditional census for 2000, Republicans now find themselves divided on whether the public must really answer all those questions.
As the bureau mailed out its census forms, congressional offices began hearing complaints from those upset about being asked for detailed information-especially on the long form, which asks questions about education, disabilities, income and household plumbing.
Republicans such as Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., and Rep. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma suggested the public need not answer questions they felt were too intrusive. Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., took particular umbrage that the government could fine those who failed to return their forms. Hagel and other Republicans are now drafting legislation that would make most of the questions voluntary. Asked Tuesday whether he worried his comments would hurt census participation in his state, Hagel proudly declared, "My response rate is the highest in the country." As of Wednesday, bureau data indicated 64 percent of Nebraska households had indeed returned their census forms-the nation's best response rate at that moment.
But long form response rates usually lag behind those for the short form, and Census Bureau Director Kenneth Prewitt said Wednesday the gap is larger than in 1990, with a 48 percent return rate for the long form compared to 60 percent for the short form. Congressional Democrats have noted Congress itself approved the eight-question short form and 53-question long form, and that most of the questions have been dictated by Congress.
"We presented those questions to the U.S. Congress," Prewitt told reporters this week. "They were all authorized. They were all paid for." Matthew Glavin, president of the conservative Southeastern Legal Foundation that sued the administration to prevent sampling, said the GOP-controlled Congress missed its chance to put its stamp on the questionnaires. "They all approved it. There's a bit of hypocrisy on the part of the Republicans," Glavin said.
Fearing that low participation rates will overlook many Americans-and bolster the Democratic position for sampling-House Republicans Thursday held a news conference to urge participation. Republican Conference Chairman J.C. Watts of Oklahoma noted that GOP House leaders had promised and delivered on the estimated $6.8 billion cost of the decennial census, as long as the bureau conducts a traditional count in addition to the sampling variation that Democrats have been pushing. "Republicans have put a lot of effort into making sure every American gets counted," Watts said.
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