Common Cause/NY Applauds SCOTUS Decision on Census Citizenship Question

NEW YORK, NY (06/27/2019) (readMedia)-- Responding to breaking news that the Supreme Court has ruled unanimously against the Trump administration's attempt to add a citizenship question to the 2020 census, Common Cause/NY Executive Director Susan Lerner, released the following statement:

"The Supreme Court's ruling recognizes that Secretary Ross' intentions were indeed 'mismatched' to his explanation in seeking to add a citizenship question to the U.S. Census. It's a clear perversion of the Constitution for political gain to undermine the redistricting process, by suppressing the count in immigrant rich states like New York, which could lose out on millions of dollars in federal aid for roads, hospitals, and other shared resources. The census is an essential part of our democracy, and Common Cause/NY is committed to ensuring a fair and accurate count so that every New Yorker has a voice."

Background

In the last redistricting cycle Common Cause/NY produced the only non-partisan maps for both federal and state lines. When the Legislative Apportionment Task Force on Redistricting (LATFOR) drew gerrymandered maps for Congress, a judge appointed a federal monitor who hewed closely to the Common Cause model which heavily influenced the ultimate district lines. Common Cause has long advocated for a citizen lead, independent commission like exists in California to plan and produce maps.