Burton Stops the Obama White House

I'm not usually one to simply post press releases from my clients but I am so excited about this particular development I am going to.  Basically the amendment would bar the Obama White House from taking over the US Census in order to skew the count in their favor.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
June 18, 2009

Burton Amendment Passes, Bars White House From Politicizing 2010 Census
White House Loses Ability To Revert To Unprecedented Census Takeover Policy 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Dan Burton (R-IN) successfully pushed the U.S. House to adopt his amendment to the Commerce, Justice and Science Departments' Appropriations bill today by a vote of 251-168.  The Burton Amendment bars any appropriated funds in the bill from being used to transfer the Office of the Census or Commerce Department employees to the jurisdiction of the White House.  

The Burton Amendment was offered to reassert Congressional authority over the Census, and to reassure the American people that the White House could not revert to its original policy of taking over the 2010 Census.

After the passage of his amendment, Rep. Burton issued the following remarks:
"Earlier this year, the White House announced their intention to take over the 2010 Census and remove it from the hands of the Department of Commerce.  As public consternation grew over the idea of having political operatives run the 2010 Census, the Obama Administration backtracked and has since sought to play down their role.

"The House passed my amendment today in an effort to assure the American people that the Obama Administration can not revert back to its Census-takeover policy.  In doing so, the House has also reasserted the fact that the U.S. Constitution placed control of the Census in the hands of Congress, not political operatives.

"The experienced and talented professionals at the Census Bureau can now carry out their task without worrying about political or partisan interference."

Background:
VIDEO: Rep. Burton speaks about the Burton Amendment on the House floor.

TEXT:  The Burton Amendment to the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2010:

"None of the funds made available in this Act may be used to relocate the Office of the Census or employees from the Department of Commerce to the jurisdiction of the Executive Office of the President.”