[b]...and WHO SAID ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS DON'T COST THE U.S. TAXPAYER ANYTHING???[/b]

Texas officials urge residents to be counted

Associated Press
June 7, 2009

SAN ANTONIO — Texas stands to lose millions of dollars in federal money for health care and schools if the 2010 census undercounts residents as it has in the past, state officials say.

In the last census, 373,567 Texans were not counted, or 1.76 percent of the state's population in 2000, according to an audit done then. The undercount could have resulted in Texas missing out on $1 billion in federal funds from 2002 to 2012 if a recalculation hadn't been done.

The undercount was most pronounced in border counties, where unincorporated neighborhoods known as "colonias" are located and where residents are often in most need of aid.

"We, in South Texas, were hurt with the 2000 census, because the colonias were undercounted in a drastic way," said Juan Vargas, Webb County economic development director, the San Antonio Express-News reported.

Census takers reported that people wouldn't answer the door, whether because of cultural barriers or fear of the government, Vargas said.

Robert Groves, President Obama's nominee for director of the U.S. Census Bureau, has identified multiple-family homes and language barriers as an issue for every census. Return home visits by census-takers, though expensive, are highly successful, he said.

The census will also offer self-administered questionnaires and Web-based surveys for those who prefer them, Groves said.

Hispanic groups, such as the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials, say the number of Hispanics is undercounted by about 3 percent — or 1 million Latinos — nationwide.

"Unfortunately, the Latino population has never been fully counted," said Arturo Vargas, NALEO executive director.

Hispanics make up much of the state's recent population growth, especially along the border, and those areas most benefit from federal dollars.

An accurate count is important for other reasons, too. Economic development officials use the data to lure businesses and new jobs.

"It's part of our bread and butter," said Patrick Jankowski, vice president of research for the Greater Houston Partnership. "If the census data didn't exist, my job would be nearly impossible."

The data allows communities to compare and market themselves with other communities when employers are interested in moving or expanding to a Texas community.

"The economic development business lives on data," Jankowski said.

June 7, 2009 - 11:01 a.m. PDT

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/g ... ensus.html