Analysis: Census data shows 8 states could lose House seats

[MazeRat7]

Eight states — most in the Northeast and Midwest — would lose seats in Congress in 2010, based on an analysis of Census estimates of 2008 state populations released today.

Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania each would lose a seat, according to an analysis by Election Data Services, Inc.

Five states — Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, and Utah — would each gain one seat. Texas would be the big winner, adding three seats.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/census/2008-12-22-census-congress-analysis_N.htm

Why are we seeing this population shift ? Personally I suspect, as with all systems, there are many factors at work. Bottom line, having seen how the districts were gerrymandered here in Texas to favor republicans, I suspect we will see more in these other states as well.

Peace,
MZr7

[Donnachaidh]

1. people are moving to the south for WORK

It's not gerrymandering -- it's economic.

[Warpy]

2. Have you ever tried living in Massachusetts?

It's cold up there, man! In addition, most places are heated with oil, so keeping the pipes unfrozen is an extremely expensive proposition.

A lot of snowbirds who moved south permanently are finding the AC bills are worse, but at least they don't have to shovel heat.

Just realize that the people who are leaving are largely Democrats, so the population shift is also going to be a cultural shift in the states that see net population gains.

It's why NC went barely blue this time.

Gerrymandering will be able to do only so much, diluting urban populations with stuck in the mud, conservative rural ones. While local elections will remain putrid, national ones are likely to shift in states with net population gain.

[wellstone dem]

3. I was counting on losing Minnesota's sixth district

I want to lose Michelle.

[napi21]

4. Pa, Oh, & Mi losses are due to lack of available jobs. La due to

many people simply not returning after Katrina. I don't know about the North Eastern States, but I would guess it has at least something to do with many people retiring and moving south.

I know Pa. lost 1 seat in the last census too.

[elifino]

5. Looks like job availability, companies moving to low tax states.

I read this somewhere sometime ago, sorry do not remember the source.

[madokie]

6. Seems like lots of people have been moving here

these last 25, 30 years or so but we lost one the last time best I remember. Oklahoma

Maybe the smart ones figured if we can send two dickheads like inhofe and coburn to the senate we don't need the representation so they cut our number by one. My apologies to everyone for my states foisting these two upon you all.

Actually I think its our optical scan vote counting and the extremely high cost of recounts to be at work here :-)