On Thursday, November 5, an amendment by Republican Louisiana Senator David Vitter that would call for the inclusion of a question about citizenship on the next U.S. Census failed in the US Senate as the Senate called for cloture on a Commerce, Justice, Science bill. The Vitter legislation attracted the attention of national media since the issue involved illegal aliens, a pending census, Hispanics, ethnicity, the constitution, politics, elections, reapportionment and other issues.
Senator Vitter posted this below on his web site after the vote. Democratic Louisiana Senator Mary Landrieu issued the following floor statement on the issue to the Senate for the record. The cloture vote went down across party lines. All Democrats voted for cloture while all Republicans voted against cloture. Arizonia Republican Senator John McCain did not vote.
Senator Vitter
U.S. Senator David Vitter today expressed his disappointment over the Senate’s rejection of his amendment to the Commerce, Justice and Science spending bill that would call for the inclusion of a question about citizenship on the next U.S. Census.
“I am disappointed that my colleagues in the Senate chose to block this common sense amendment that could prevent Louisiana and several other states from losing a congressional seat following the 2010 census,” said Vitter. “The census is important – but so is gathering accurate data. And we can’t do that unless we know whether or not we are counting actual U.S. citizens. My amendment would have helped us do just that – it’s a shame that so many of my colleagues chose to ignore that.”
Vitter’s amendment would have prevented funding from being used to collect census data that does not include questions regarding United States citizenship.
Senator Landrieu
November 5, 2009
Madame/Mr. President,
I rise today to speak about an amendment that Senator Vitter offered to the Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations bill that would require that none of the funds made available in this Act may be used for collection of census data that does not include a question regarding status of United States citizenship.
Sen. Vitter contends that the founding fathers only believed that citizens should be counted by Census officials for the purposes of congressional apportionment.
He argues that the inclusion of non-citizens in the census will result in Louisiana losing a Congressional seat since the population of states like California and Texas could be inflated by millions of illegal immigrants – making their population growth relatively greater than ours.
Should non-citizens be included in the calculation that determines the allocation of seats in the House of Representatives? I believe that the answer is no.
But merely adding a question to the Census won’t fix that. That change requires an amendment to the Constitution, which states: “Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State”.
I think that the Constitution is clear. But my staff has checked with the nation’s foremost Constitutional scholars at Yale, Stanford, and UCLA to name a few. They have checked with scholars from the political right and scholars from the political left. So far, every single scholar agrees: If you want to exclude non-citizens you must amend the Constitution.
Prof. Eugene Volokh, a well-regarded Constitutional Law scholar at UCLA, and a staunch conservative, has written publicly that the notion would be unconstitutional.
Were the Founder’s wrong to create the formula for Congressional apportionment in that way? That’s a very serious question for all 50 states, but it is far from the most important challenge confronting Louisiana today.
The fact is that if Louisiana does not bolster law enforcement, our communities won’t be safe enough to attract new residents. If we don’t improve our failing public schools, families won’t want to call Louisiana home – and businesses won’t have the employment base that will grow our economy.
The truth is that our state has seen more outward migration than any other in the union. Only Louisiana and North Dakota lost population this decade – and Louisiana’s population was reduced by a much higher degree.
Illegal immigration is a very serious problem. But it is not responsible for Louisiana’s loss of representation. Andrew Beveridge, a sociologist at Queens College and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York has shown that even if all illegal immigrants were excluded, Louisiana would still lose a seat.
Here’s our real problem: Decades of stagnant economic growth drove many Louisianians elsewhere – and that was before Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav and Ike severely impacted our populous coastal communities.
Demonstrating that Louisiana means business when it comes to reforming our schools and our police departments and our basic infrastructure takes serious work. That’s the work that I engage in every day.
Blaming immigrants for our problems doesn’t take much effort, but it won’t make our state a better place to live either.
I yield the floor.
GOP Senatorial Committee, Melancon
Today, the National Republican Senatorial Committee issued a statement criticizing Louisiana Congressman Charlie Melancon for the increased unemployment announced today. Below is a relevant section of the statement and a official comment on the White House blog concerning the same issue:
National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) Press Secretary Amber Wilkerson Marchand issued the following statement in response to the Labor Department’s announcement today that the nation’s unemployment rate climbed to 10.2 percent in October, topping the 10 percent mark for the first time in 26 years.
“Today’s devastating announcement that our nation’s unemployment rate has reached 10.2 percent defies assurances from the Obama Administration and Democrats who supported the massive $787 billion ‘stimulus’ bill nine months ago that their massive legislation would prevent unemployment rates from surpassing 8 percent.
“Clearly, Charlie Melancon’s strategy to throw more taxpayer money at Louisiana’s ailing economy has failed. And now President Obama and the Democrats in Congress are asking the families, seniors, and small business owners in Louisiana to trust them to spend another trillion dollars in taxpayer money in order to implement a Washington takeover of America’s health care system.
Posted by Christina Romer on November 06, 2009 at 09:30 AM EST
Today's employment report contained both signs of hope for recovery and painful evidence of continued labor market weakness.
Payroll employment declined 190,000 in October, continuing the steady trend of moderating job loss that began last spring. Furthermore, the employment loss in both August and September was revised down substantially. Importantly, employment in temporary help services, typically one of the first industries to see job gains, increased by 33,700. The motor vehicle industry also posted employment gains. These are hopeful signs that the unprecedented policy actions are working to stabilize the economy and put us on a path toward recovery.
The unemployment rate, however, rose four-tenths of a percentage point, to 10.2 percent. That this occurred despite the rise in real GDP last quarter reflects both the typical lag between GDP growth and unemployment decline, and the recent exceptional increases in productivity. Having the unemployment rate reach double-digits is a stark reminder of how much work remains to be done before American families see the job gains and reduced unemployment that they need and deserve.
So, the questions are whether the economy is improving or not and to what extent will any change in the economy since President Obama took over have upon elections next year including the Louisiana US Senate Race. Congressman Charlie Melancon, a Democrat, is running against incumbent Republican US Senator, David Vitter.
New Orleans Elections
While New Orleans businessman John Georges made his announcement this week to run for Mayor, political pundits and insiders are claiming that Rob Couhig, Eddie Sapir and Leslie Jacobs are very serious about entering the race. Should that occur, without doubt, it would spread the vote among more candidates and make the election more unpredicatable. One of the key issues in this election is the lack of money. Many people involved in various campaigns are complaining about the inability to raise money. To what extent that issue plays a role in the election remains to be seen in terms of who benefits and who loses. However, "without "green you won't be seen". During the next few weeks before qualifying, it will be very important for the candidates to raise money so that they appear to be real competitors and viable candidates. Another spinoff to the lack of dough is the "filter down effect". If the mayoral candiates are having difficulty in raising money, just imagine the difficulty that the candidates for city council and other races might be confronting. From various sources, I have heard the money pinch is real and could be the determining factor in many of these elections.
Well God Bless Mr. Gramm...... <holy sh^t> Written by
on 11/10/2009
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I think that is exactly what Gramm's meaning was. Blame him for any confusion, it was his quote. Written by kpf
on 11/9/2009
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Kp, are you screwing with me or something??? """"Prosperity - and what state government is capable of is largely due to what Phil Gramm referred to as having "able-bodied men and women 'riding in the wagon' to help the rest of us pull""""""?!?!???????? I don't need to be pulling no able-bodied men and women around in a wagon, they need to get out in the mud and help push too!!!! Written by
on 11/9/2009
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Btw, I think the Democratic Party is returning the favor by running Melancon against Vitter. I think it is safe to say Vitter will be re-elected. Written by Cry over this
on 11/9/2009
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Kennedy could not win a race as democrat and the changing parties showed he had no real beliefs. Videos of him attacking republicans for the very thing he changed and said he supported is what really made him lose another election, not that people really wanted Mary. Even now he tries to get his name in the paper for bucking the jindal administration but the reality is he never really does anything. I think he makes a good state treasure but that is all he will ever be. I am a democrat and Steve Scalise would have got my vote and many others but for some unknown reason the republican party did want to back a winner. I mean maybe Kennedy and Mary was going to be a close race in Mary worst years, but there was no doubt about Steve Scalise winning and he would have won. I may not agree with Steve Scalise on a lot of things but he is one our last real leaders in Louisiana. I also ask why does the republican party want so many life long democrats to water down their own party unless they are all the same ? Written by Cry over this
on 11/8/2009
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Kpf you are right again but all our leaders are interesting in getting as much federal money as they can. They may turn down a little for show but they are constantly begging for more. Farm subsidies are just another form of welfare. Written by Cry over this
on 11/8/2009
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The state republican party leadership is a joke. Kennedy would have made a good senator, better than mary. At least he will buck the leadership. Why do you think he left the democratic party? Written by CN
on 11/8/2009
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Why is it an issue at all??? When any state's population goes up or down the seats in the House are adjusted accordingly. We'll get the number of seats in the House our population is entitled to. The best way to improve our state's economy is for individuals to get an education, hold down a job and get off the public dole than to hope for "more dollars from D.C." due to the census count, IMHO. Prosperity - and what state government is capable of is largely due to what Phil Gramm referred to as having "able-bodied men and women 'riding in the wagon' to help the rest of us pull" - not more money from the Federal government. Written by kpf
on 11/8/2009
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The Rinos were supported by the republican party. The republican party in Louisiana and most of the country are quick to support these type of people. I have asked this before , if the republican party wanted to get rid of Mary while they had their best chance, why did they pick a loser democrat like Kennedy instead of running someone like Republican Steve Scalise, who would have won ? Jindal, Mary and Vitter are all the same and they need to go. Vote for who ever you want but do not pretend they really care. We knew we would probably lose a seat after Katrina but it only becomes a issue when election time is getting near. Written by Cry over this
on 11/8/2009
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The RINO's wanted to give amnesty to all illegals not the conservative republicans. Jindal is becoming a RINO who is all talk. Vitter at least helped squash the McCain bill. Written by CN
on 11/8/2009
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I loved the April fools day and admit I did not see that one. I also love how republicans forget they wanted to give all illegal aliens amnesty and John McCain said they were only here to do the jobs Americans would not do. I never knew Americans refused to do roofing and construction jobs but as we can see the Mexicans are having to take over those jobs. Our own republican Bobby Jindal was proud to reopen the Mexican consulate in new orleans even as they tried to steal our reporters blackberry. Republicans can also be proud that President Bush refused to give a full pardon to two of our border agents who had the gall to do their job. Mary, Jindal and Vitter need to go because they are all the same. Written by Cry over this
on 11/8/2009
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Has anyone out there stopped to think that national census day in 2010 is April 1, or "April Fools Day"? Gawd, someone could smack y'all between the eyes with a 2 X 4 and you still woodn't see it comming....... (woodn't, ha-ha! It's joke there son, get it? Wood? 'Woodn't'?? Eeeeeyewwwwww, I do believe the boys got about as much empty space in his head as a knothole in a fence board....there I go again!!!! I say I can't help mahself!!!) Written by
on 11/7/2009
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Landrieu calls them non-citizens when they are illegal aliens, not all of them but a large majority. Illegal means they should not be counted and they should be sent back unless they are in the country working legally. Written by CN
on 11/6/2009
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Interesting the phrase " ...American families see the job gains and reduced unemployment that they need and deserve." Unemployment will be "what it will be." I certainly do not believe government reallocating money from businesses that suceed and sent to those who fail is going to create "more jobs." In fact I suspect it will have the opposite effect.
Written by kpf
on 11/6/2009
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On Thursday, November 5, an amendment by Republican Louisiana Senator David Vitter that would call for the inclusion of a question about citizenship on the next U.S. Census failed in the US Senate as the Senate called for cloture on a Commerce, Justice, Science bill. The Vitter legislation attracted the attention of national media since the issue involved illegal aliens, a pending census, Hispanics, ethnicity, the constitution, politics, elections, reapportionment and other issues.
