wfn.org | Lutherans Support "Statistical Sampling" in 2000 Census

[NEWS <NEWS@ELCA.ORG>]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

February 23, 1999

LUTHERANS SUPPORT "STATISTICAL SAMPLING" IN 2000 CENSUS
99-07-38-FI

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Lutheran Office for Governmental Affairs
(LOGA) in Washington, D.C., is asking President Clinton, U.S. Secretary
of Commerce William M. Daley, and members of Congress to "include
statistical sampling in the decennial census."  The U.S. Constitution
requires that citizens be counted every 10 years to determine the number
and districts of representatives in the U.S. House.
     Statistical sampling uses projections to account for certain
citizens who may not have been counted in previous national censuses.
Opponents say such projections may skew results disproportionately,
giving higher than accurate totals for those previously missed.
     "It is simply not fair to exclude statistical sampling as part of
the plan when we know from past experience that without it homeless
people, children and minorities will be overlooked," the Rev. Russell O.
Siler, LOGA's director, and Kay A. Bengston, assistant director, wrote
Feb. 5.
     "We believe that to use only a plan that in the past has
inaccurately counted some of the most vulnerable people in our society
is not acceptable," they wrote.
     LOGA is the federal public policy advocacy office of the 5.2
million-member Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
     The Census Bureau of the U.S. Department of Commerce "confirmed
that the 1990 census missed 8.4 million people and double-counted 4.4
million others," Siler and Bengston wrote.  "Children, poor people,
people of color, city dwellers and people who live in rural rental homes
were missed more often than others.  Two million children were left out,
the highest undercount of all."
     Siler and Bengston said the National Academy of Sciences
recommended the use of statistical sampling to get the most accurate,
fair and cost effective count possible.  The U.S. Supreme Court decided
recently, however, that statistical sampling would violate the Census
Act if it is used to determine the allocation of congressional seats.
     The LOGA letters recommend using statistical sampling for a count
that does not determine congressional representation.  Siler and
Bengston said 1976 amendments to the Census Act require two sets of
census numbers and that if the Secretary of Commerce says sampling is
feasible, it must be used in the next census.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html