The US Senate killed Sen. David Vitter's attempt to require the 2010 Census to insert an amendment denying all funding in a Commerce funding bill unless it included a question regarding the status of US citizenship.
The amendment in question said, “To provide 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.”
The Senate voted to invoke cloture and end the debate on the Commerce bill without needing to include Vitter’s Amendment.
Louisiana’s Sen. Mary Landrieu, had written a scathing letter to Senator Vitter about his amendment voted to invoke cloture.Other than Republican Congressman Joseph Cao of New Orleans who is running for re-election in a heavily Democratic district strongly populated with minorities, all other members of the Louisiana delegation supported the Amendment.
Vitter’s amendment has been very controversial and columns have appeared in major news publications debating the issue.The purported intent of the Amendment was to ensure that illegal aliens were not counted in the census.Vitter said that the census as currently designed would cause Louisiana a seat in the House of Representatives since Louisiana has a low illegal alien population whereas other states had a larger population.
The Department of Census told Bayoubuzz that to change the census at this juncture could cost billions.Supporters of Vitter’s amendment have been concerned that states such as Louisiana and others would representatives.Many of those supporters were from states which might lose a representative or more.
Numerous columns in national publications and blogs have criticized illegal aliens or the Amendment and the legislation took on a cause célèbre about combating illegal aliens regardless of the possible loss of House seats.
Many opponents of the Amendment claimed that the Amendment was against Hispanics, that Senator Vitter could have objected over a year ago and that the Amendment was against the constitution.
Section 2 of the 14th Amendment of the Constitution, adopted after the Civil War, says: "Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each state, excluding Indians not taxed."
The key issue was whether the census could only count “citizens” since Section 2 said “persons”.
A former Director of the Census serving four presidents (Republican and Democrats) had said that the census had always counted persons, not citizens.
On the Senate floor today, Sen, Vitter asked for an apology from Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev). for insinuating that the amendment was parallel to prior attempts to intimidate blacks from voting.Vitter called Reid’s comments “an outrageous statement”
Numerous Hispanic leaders and and major Hispanic groups, however, were against the Amendment such as the Hispanic Bar Association.
Census officials have told Bayoubuzz that it needed to count all persons to get an accurate count.Senator Vitter has said that the cost estimates to change the census were not accurate and that the census without his amendment would not be accurate.
I realize that modern self-described intellectual liberals think Western Civilization is the cause of all the world's ills. I think they are educated fools with little if any real world experience outside of the classroom. When bad times come, they will huddle and make whimpering sounds. I don't pay much attention to them; except as curiosities. Written by kpf
on 11/10/2009
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"""""I cannot understand why liberals denigrate Christians then kiss the asses of Muslims"""""????????? BECAUSE IT SELLS AIRTIME KP, BECAUSE IT SELLS AIRTIME THAT'S WHY..... NO AIRTIME, NO ADVERTISING DOLLARS........ AND IT IS NOW SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE and EXPECTED OF 'CAUCAUSIONS' TO HOLD THEIR HEADS IN SHAME AND COME TO THE UNDERSTANDING THEY ARE THE CAUSE OF ALL OF THE WORLD'S PROBLEMS.... Oh I feel so dirty, so vile, so contemptable.... (Tell you one thing Kp, if I'd been on the scene with my trusty .357 that Ft. Hood @zz-clown wouldn't have had a chance to get a shot off if I had seen him comming.... But then again, I would have to ask myself; "Why would I, a former Marine, possibly want to visit an Army Base in the first place for"? Kp, you ain't seen nothing yet, wait until you hear what is going to be demanded by about 35 to 90 million 'refugees' in a few years.... And it will be done, because all we are now are sharecroppers and China holds the mortgage to the White House and our Congress... Enjoy your already emerging new reality folks, its final chapter is coming quicker than you think and you will have earned every last thing you won't receive.... And no, y'all aren't going to get 'raptured' up into the sky so you can sit around happily munching on 'fluff' sandwiches while everyone else suffers..... This is a democracy, you to shall suffer as well............... I am sure someone will gauarntee it.... Written by
on 11/10/2009
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You're right; losing a city - or a big part of one - is not a "win" in any way. I cannot understand why liberals denigrate Christians then kiss the asses of Muslims - even letting them pray in public schools(!?). These same liberals decry intolerance and champion women's rights, yet fail to denounce Muslim treatment of women ( um ... like for instance, a woman who has been raped is a harlot and must be stoned to death) or how intolerant they are ( um .. like those who leave the Muslim religion are apostates and must be stoned to death). Even when the Miss World (or "Universe") was held in Nigeria and a young single woman was guilty of the great sin of being pregnant ad single and was sentenced to (you guessed it) being stoned to death, there was no outcry from the left. Although I am a social liberal myself I cannot adopt the "new liberal" (sixties radicals actually) mindset. Not only does it not make logical sense but also it is self-hate - that is hatred for Western Civilization, Europeans and Caucasians. Speaking purely as a neutral observer, Western Civilization, Europeans and Caucasians "rock" - I mean, without us, the rest of the world squats in mud and watches flies swarm in the eyes of their starving children. So ... what's to hate? Modern liberals, they’re so goofy. Written by kpf
on 11/10/2009
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No, that would not be a win-win, in fact, the days of ““Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free……” are over for all practical purposes… We can hardly deal with our own problems… And I think the “Genesis 1:28 "And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it” Routine sort of went out the door when the ark sailed back in Noah’s time… Speaking of the tired and poor, the ancient Colossus of Rhodes came to mind when thinking of the Statue of Liberty.. It is sometimes called the "Modern Colossus,". The Statue of Liberty is somewhat like Colossus. Both were built as a celebration of freedom. Originally, Colossus stood over 2,000 years ago at the Islands of Rhodes. It is located off of the southwestern tip is Asia Minor, where the Agean Sea meets the Mediterranean Sea. The capitol city, Rhodes, was built in 408 B.C. In 357 B.C the island which was conquered by Mausolus of Halicarnassus (one of the other seven wonders) fell to the Persians in 340 B.C. and was finally capture by Alexander the Great in 332 B.C. The Statue of Liberty, which is the same size as Colossus, weighs 225 tons! Colossus weighed a little more. Inside the statue were several stone columns, which acted as the main supports. In the 7th century (A.D.) the Arabs conquered Rhodes and broke up Colossus, and sold it as scrap metal. It took 900 camels to take away the statue. It was a sad ending for what was a majestic work of art. - -- - <poem> “The New Colossus” …. by Emma Lazarus - - - - - Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame, with conquering limbs astride from land to land; Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand a mighty woman with a torch, whose flame is the imprisoned lightning, and her name Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command the air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame. “"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!"” cries she with silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”…………… Written by
on 11/10/2009
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Your points are valid, and the political correctness is not only dangerous to our country, but dangerous to Muslims as well. Since the government is unwilling to treat the threat from Islam as it should be, they will be more likely to commit a serious act on our soil. When this happens, it makes the backlash against both Muslims in our country, Muslims the world over (particulary those with WMD) and those who advocate this pansy-assed policy all the more "severe." So think of it this way, if our political correctness DOESN'T allow an attack on our soil, "no harm no foul." If it DOES allow an attack - and you are yours are not casualties - then "right thinking" will prevail. Written by so it's a "win-win"
on 11/10/2009
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Of course there is also this to ponder; """There are close to 1.7 billion Muslims in this world and I just believe with all my heart that more than 95% of them are good people…" However my friend, that is around 7.5 million people who are out to get us; that is not a small group. They are hidden in caves, in the cubicle next to ours, teaching our children, learining to fly, caring for our sick, and infiltrating our military...... So what about this census thing again?
Written by
on 11/9/2009
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Saw this posting on another site, thought it was sort of interesting..... ""Illegals can do whatever they want and get away with it. This is becoming commonplace in the United States. Illegals can run into light poles. They can rape, murder, steal and are not deported. In sanctuary cities they can drive without license or insurance -- and get away with it. This is mind boggling. Can someone explain it to me? Why are illegals the "chosen ones." Same with the Muslims. All the Muslims have to do is threaten a terrorist act and they're treated like royalty. Denver just passed a law stating that it's okay for illegals to drive without license and insurance. Denver is a sanctuary city. This is a conscious decision by the state legislatures and city councils to not enforce the law when it comes to illegals. It's called the Hispanic vote. The Muslims are also building a strong lobby so politicians will soon be catering to Muslims. The United States has become the whore capitol of the world.
Written by
on 11/9/2009
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check out da link: ach-tee-tee-pee-colon-double forward slash mises.org/daily/3809 Written by kpf
on 11/6/2009
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No Kp, that is where we have a disagreement there of the most basic kind... ONE MUST SPEND MONEY TO GENERATE MONEY.... Plain and simple... You cannot just put it in a jar and bury it in the back yard.... And at the same time, just tossing bales of money on the bonfire stimulates nothing either... Oh sure, it may generate some heat on a cold winter day, but above and beyond that the return is simply ashes to ashes, dust to dust..... right now the California government is increasing state withholding taxes from paychecks.... It allows the worker to save, (which right now isn't what is needed being as there really isn't anything to save in their overinflated economy) but if one really looks closely at the name of the game, what the state is really doing is borrowing, interest free, hundreds upon hundreds upon hundreds of millions of dollars... Now float that money into the market and it is not only borrowing interest free, it is also skimming an additonal 2 or 3% on the vig and getting 17% on the backside with a 1 month to a 14 month incremental payback time frame.... Isn't moving money just grand????? Written by
on 11/6/2009
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This is all about getting donations from Uncle Sugar. The days of living at the expense of others is nearing an end, including one state surviving with funds from the rest (a.k.a. "Federal funds"). Government is doing everything it can (record deficits, record money "creation") to infuse money into the economy, and all the measures are at record or 20+ years highs (or "lows" whichever is worse) be it unemployment rates, home sales, consumer credit, etc. The world's Central Banks are getting ready to "pull the plug" on the "stimulus" money - no alternative to prevent inflation. So where will we be when we have several more hundred billion dollars in annual interest on the national debt, a devalued dollar AND high unemployment? Government cannot cause prosperity by spending money; the Obama administration is a high point of socialism in this country. As their policies fail, they will lose more and more power. Not that the GOP is "better" in all ways, but at least they do not rape the economy as badly or as often as "tax and spend" liberals do. Written by kpf
on 11/6/2009
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CORRUPTION THE IN DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP.
Sen. Vitter's and Bennett had it right in banning illegal aliens from the Census, because SANCTUARY STATES will get a big chunk of Uncle Sam's funding. Small states will not only lose congressional seats, but federal money for its infrastructure and other desperate needs. But then SANCTUARY STATES AND CITIES need large gout's of cash, to pay for all the government benefits needed to sustain the huge illegal immigrant populations in California, Nevada, Texas and New Mexico. However just may be ICE has something devious up its sleeve?
WITHOUT ANY FEAR OF CONTRADICTION ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION WAS NEVER MEANT TO BE STOPPED. Very few politicians have tried to halt the occupancy by foreign invaders to our country? This is why the E-Verify mechanism was never mandated, owing to the fact that Americans are last to be a priority, specially the 15.3 million jobless workers. Already Hispanic Caucuses have confronted President Obama at the White House, with the chair of the House Rules Committee indicating they are giving the Caucuses what they have adamantly demanded. Rep. Louise Slaughter D-N.Y indicated that the House will have to vote on a bill that allows illegal aliens to use the new health care "exchange". A loophole that does not require verification to keep illegal aliens out of the other parts of the proposed new federal health care system. Please call all House-Senate Members and urge them to vote against the rule that provides a weak verification mechanism that still allows illegal aliens to purchase insurance from the health care exchange. WE MUST JAM THE SWITCHBOARDS IN WASHINGTON, PUSHING OUR OWN DEMANDS at 202-224-3121 that bars illegal aliens from the health care insurance "exchange" YOUR VOICE IS MAKING AN IMMENSE DIFFERENCE TO HOW THE POLITICIANS VOTE? WARN THEM OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF IGNORING PUBLIC OPINION.
Other pieces of information contributing to the dilemma of US legal population: Senate Census allows to Count Illegal Aliens for Congressional Districting . CBO Says New Health Care Bill Would Cover 2.5 Million More Illegal Aliens. Sen. Reid Kills E-Verify Amendment to Unemployment extension Bill. Pro-Enforcement Candidates win in Virginia and New Jersey. 68% of Americans Oppose Sanctuary Cities
You can learn about the corruption and incompetence of lawmakers at NUMBERSUSA. Court cases, political sleaze and immigration non-enforcement at JUDICIAL WATCH. How population growth will effect future generations at CAPSWEB. NO BLANKET AMNESTY!
Written by Brittanicus
on 11/6/2009
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Dave Treen was a nice guy but an ineffective governor who served just one term kpf. David Vitter is neither a nice guy nor effective. He simply knows how to grandstand.Whether it comes to passing bills or amendments to bills, his record is poor. Written by David Quidd
on 11/6/2009
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chaubert on 11/6/2009, Cutting off their noses to spite their faces? Gee, now that the shoe may be getting put onto the other foot, and Louisiana might not be able to beg, cry, grovel for funds from other states NOW YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT QUAINT LOUISIANA TRADITION of cutting off noses to spite faces..?
Written by STRONGCONCRTE
on 11/6/2009
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So some of you folks think it is OK to determine the number of Congressmen that Texas and California get by including the numbers of illegal aliens in those states? And it is OK that in part because of that, Louisiana and other states lose representation to Texas and California?
Wait until you see what happens when the Louisiana legislature gets reapportioned after the next census: New Orleans having lost population will lose legislators. And Orleans parish will have less influence as a result, and will be much less likely to continue getting subsidies from the state. While the NOLA metro area pays its way, Orleans parish does not since its per capita income is low, and it pays less in taxes than it consumes in services.
And the same is true for the entire state of Louisiana: we pay less in taxes than we get in services, especially Medicaid and other subsidies to low income populations.
All this matters, and you foolish people who just want to bash Senator Vitter are cutting off your own noses to spite your faces. Written by chaubert
on 11/6/2009
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Besides Mr. Quidd, I would have thought you would have a better understanding of how things actually are in congress. Un;ess there is divided government (by far the best for the country, for many reasons), the party in power passes what they want - slightly modified due to needing a small number of the minority party on occassion. So no GOP senator or representative will get any legislation passed, until they have a majority. It is no different for the Dems. Watch C-Span, learn. Effectiveness for a member of the minority party consists of modifying or stopping the other party's legislation. Occassionally one sees bipartisan legislation - such as "No Child Left Behind" where Bush and Kennedy came together - but this is rare no matter which party is in power. The difference is that when the GOP is in power Democratic obstructionism is not critised in the media, just as the media never refers to any Democratic politician as "divisive" - regardless of how apt that description may be. Written by kpf
on 11/5/2009
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As usual I disagree with you Mr. Quidd. Adding hundreds of laws and thousands of pages to our laws is not being "effective." For effective government, see Jim Brown's description of David Treen and what government should - and should not - do. Written by kpf
on 11/5/2009
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The amendment was mere political posturing. As far as illegal aliens go - deport them. As far as spending goes, only spend what you have, not a penny more. Counting or not counting illegals? Humbug. Written by my two cents
on 11/5/2009
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Vitter was just doing a little political grandstanding and besides he knows that adding one more failure to his career will not make a difference. Written by Cry over this
on 11/5/2009
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Another legislative failure for David Vitter. We need a Senator who can actually get legislation passed into law. Written by David Quidd
on 11/5/2009
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Quite a few million 'nothings' and quite a few 'billions' of dollars if that is your idea of 'nothings'...... there is my opinion on that last statement..... Kant U @ least git reel??? Written by
on 11/5/2009
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If one watches bills moving thru congress on C-Span I or II, it becomes evident that there are many outrageous amendments that are attempted to be added to legislation. All in all this is much ado about nothing. Written by my two cents
on 11/5/2009
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¡¡¡¡++++++ɐ ¡¡ǝuoʎuɐ oʇ puǝɯɯoɔǝɹ p1noʍ .pɐǝɹ oʇ ʎsɐǝ ʎ1ǝɯǝɹʇxǝ sɐʍ ɥdɐɹb ʇɐɥʇ Written by
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