Changes

Rep. Darrell Issa of [[California]] and Rep. Patrick McHenry of [[North Carolina]] on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, addressed Presidnet Obama:  

Rep. Darrell Issa of [[California]] and Rep. Patrick McHenry of [[North Carolina]] on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, addressed Presidnet Obama:  

"Requiring the Census director to report directly to White House Chief of Staff [[Rahm Emanuel]] is a shamefully transparent attempt by your administration to politicize the Census Bureau and manipulate the 2010 Census. The constitutionally-mandated decennial Census needs to be fair, accurate and trusted. By circumventing the secretary of commerce's oversight of the Census Bureau and handing it directly to a political operative such as Mr. Emanuel, you are severely jeopardizing the fairness and accuracy of the 2010 Census." <ref>[http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2009/02/05/census_director_to_report_to_w.html Census Director to Work Directly with White House], By Philip Rucker ''[[Washington Post]]'', February 5 2009.</ref>  Issa also stated, "Any attempt by the [[Obama administration]] to circumvent the census process for their political benefit will be met with fierce opposition. This ill-conceived proposal undermines a constitutionally obligated process that speaks to the very heart of our democracy."  

"Requiring the Census director to report directly to White House Chief of Staff [[Rahm Emanuel]] is a shamefully transparent attempt by your administration to politicize the Census Bureau and manipulate the 2010 Census. The constitutionally-mandated decennial Census needs to be fair, accurate and trusted. By circumventing the secretary of commerce's oversight of the Census Bureau and handing it directly to a political operative such as Mr. Emanuel, you are severely jeopardizing the fairness and accuracy of the 2010 Census." <ref>[http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2009/02/05/census_director_to_report_to_w.html Census Director to Work Directly with White House], By Philip Rucker ''[[Washington Post]]'', February 5 2009.</ref>  Issa also stated, "Any attempt by the [[Obama administration]] to circumvent the census process for their political benefit will be met with fierce opposition. This ill-conceived proposal undermines a constitutionally obligated process that speaks to the very heart of our [[democracy]]."  

Michael Barone of ''[[USNews and WorldReport]]'' noted the White House power grab may violate the [[Constitution]].<ref>[http://www.usnews.com/blogs/barone/2009/02/09/white-house-census-power-grab-may-violate-the-constitution.html ''White House Census Power Grab May Violate the Constitution''], Michael Barone, US News and World Report, February 09, 2009.</ref> Article I, Section 2 of the Constitution provides for an "actual enumeration" and a statute passed by Congress provides that the duties under this clause are to be performed by the secretary of commerce. Article  is about the legislative, not the executive branch. Hence, the president can't substitute a sampling for the enumeration required to be done by the secretary.

Michael Barone of ''[[USNews and WorldReport]]'' noted the White House power grab may violate the [[Constitution]].<ref>[http://www.usnews.com/blogs/barone/2009/02/09/white-house-census-power-grab-may-violate-the-constitution.html ''White House Census Power Grab May Violate the Constitution''], Michael Barone, US News and World Report, February 09, 2009.</ref> Article I, Section 2 of the Constitution provides for an "actual enumeration" and a statute passed by Congress provides that the duties under this clause are to be performed by the secretary of commerce. Article  is about the legislative, not the executive branch. Hence, the president can't substitute a sampling for the enumeration required to be done by the secretary.