1990 Census Figures Readjustment

The subcommittee heard testimony on the decision of the Department of Commerce to not readjust the final figures obtained by the U.S. Census Bureau in the 1990 census despite a post-census survey by the Bureau which indicated as many as five million people went uncounted by the census. Supporters of the readjustment cite the numerous federal programs and congressional districts which will be affected by the undercount in terms of federal appropriations and extra population. They claim minorities and large urban areas will be affected the most by the failure to readjust the census. Critics have also claimed the failure to readjust the census would result in a decrease in representation in urban areas, historic strongholds of the Democratic party. Secretary Mosbacher said the decision was made not to adjust the census figures because it was unclear whether the statistical formulas that would be used to adjust the census figures would create a more or less accurate census count. Mr. Darby close