Census Data Suggest More Power for South in Congress

The New York Times ^ | December 24, 2008 | Bernie Becker

[2ndDivisionVet]

Official results for the next census will not be released for a few years. But it’s never too early to predict how population changes will affect the makeup of Congress through the next reapportionment.

A report released Monday predicts significant changes in the makeup of the House of Representatives in the next decade that could see a continuation of the trend of the South gaining even more seats. The report also cautioned that current economic factors could affect some of the population trends driving the most recent predictions.

After each decennial census, the 435 seats in the House are reallocated among the states to account for shifts in population. The changes made following the upcoming census will be put in place for the 2012 elections.

The study released by Election Data Services, which used recent Census Bureau projections, predicts the continuation of shifts that occurred in recent reapportionments — when states in the Sun Belt and West gained seats while those in the Northeast and Rust Belt lost them.

The report projected that, if House seats were redistributed based on 2008 population estimates, Texas would gain three seats, while Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Nevada and Utah would all gain one additional seat. Except for Utah, all of those states gained at least one seat following the 2000 Census.

Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Michigan, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania would likely lose one seat apiece. The last four all lost seats following the most recent census.

But the president of Election Data Services also said that, because of the recession and bust in the housing market, population shifts in the next two years might look different than those that occurred earlier in the decade.

[2ndDivisionVet]

When the "Big Three" go bust next year, watch Texas and the rest of the South gain millions of new people.

[BelegStrongbow]

How many of them will resemble Southerners? I came over from CA in 2004 and now am finding myself wondering if NC is conservative enough (I’ve not voted Dem for anything since 1976). When I look to the north, I see the Containment Area for Relocated Yankees growing like a weed and annexing every parcel in sight. Durham seems not to extinguish and the whole area turns bluer with every election as more and more move in.

I tell you, I’m 50 miles from the nearest big city and I’m starting to think that isn’t far enough.

[philsfan24]

“When the “Big Three” go bust next year, watch Texas and the rest of the South gain millions of new people.”

and theyll turn them all liberal. its happening now in states like nevada, colorado, and arizona. they flee california because of how destructive the liberal policies have made the state but bring their political beliefs with them.

[RobbyS]

When the "Big Three" go bust next year, watch Texas and the rest of the South gain millions of new people.

Indeed.

[Lou Budvis]

MI and OH can’t lose seats fast enough for me. I can’t stand the constant sucking-up to the UAW and other unions that litter the rust belt. CA will also probably lose a seat, which is good news for the rest of the country. It’s also good news for us Californians as there will be a better chance that the rest of the country can save us from ourselves.

We need more seats to the Mountain West, Southwest and South. Let’ get that beautiful EC Red “L” back.

[nina0113]

Y’all need to get some laws in place NOW to keep them from voting in local elections until they’ve been assimilated. I’m afraid it’s too late for Virginia, the North has taken over.

[SC Swamp Fox]

How many of them will resemble Southerners?

Yup, I remember seeing it in Florida. Retired autoworkers would parachute in to enjoy the good weather, low taxes and low cost of living and then immediately start *itching about the lack of services and sidewalks. Then they would proceed to try and turn their new locale into the liberal $#ithole they just left.

I see it here in SC along the coast, I think NC and VA may be soon lost forever.

[quadrant]

No doubt can exist that MI has played the harlot to the UAW.

[SteveAustin]

Your problem down South guys is not transplanted northerners. Your problem (and mine) is that our GOP President the last eight years looked the other way while millions upon millions of Mexicans flooded into the US, with many stopping and staying in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, etc. They even headed up into Northern and mid-tier states as well like Virginia, NC, Iowa, Wisconsin, etc.

Bush sided with his business buddies in Texas to make sure they had cheap labor and in turn sold this country out to a future mess. Arizona will go blue because of Hispanic immigration before long IMHO.

[gov_bean_ counter]

Y’all need to get some laws in place NOW to keep them from voting in local elections until they’ve been assimilated.

Afraid we'll have to start with the basics...

This is a grit.
Unsweetened tea is not served in this establishment.
Eating fried chicken or ribs with a fork is a misdemeanor offense.

[Islander7]

“...This is a grit.
Unsweetened tea is not served in this establishment.
Eating fried chicken or ribs with a fork is a misdemeanor offense....”

That’s a good start.

Teach your kids to say ‘Yes Sir’ and “No ma’am’, ‘Please’ and ‘Thank you’.
The Rebel flag is part of history, not a racist emblem. (It is usually flown to piss off liberals.)
Shoes are optional from April until late October.
Nobody gives a damn how you do things up north.

[gov_bean_ counter]

:)