Oh The Irony...

[KharmaTrain]

http://www.startribune.com/opinion/editorials/80373447.html?page=2&c=y

But Minnesota's self-interest also should motivate census compliance this year. State and regional differences matter in a host of federal activities, from dairy price supports to Medicare reimbursement to health care providers to transportation subsidies. Fewer Minnesota voices in Congress advocating for this state could well affect matters ranging from the price of a gallon of milk to the availability of medical care and mass transit.

The census' timing may pose a particular challenge for one breed of Minnesotan -- the snowbirds. Census forms are not forwarded by the postal service. Their due date is April 1, before many snowbirds fly or drive north.

To the snowbirds, Gillaspy makes a plea: Make sure you get counted in Minnesota. The census "asks where you live most of the time, not where you're found," he said. The April 1 date is not absolute, he advised. In a few months, the State Demographic Center will establish a help line to assist Minnesotans who know they won't be able to meet that due date. Be watching for that number at www.demography.state.mn.us.

Gillaspy also advises snowbirds that where one lives for census purposes has no connection to where one pays taxes. The IRS and the state Department of Revenue has no access to census data until they are made public, which under federal law cannot happen for 72 years.

It's ironic that a Minnesota member of Congress, Republican Michele Bachmann, went so far last summer to declare her intention to only partially complete her census forms, and to suggest reasons for others not to comply with the census law. If Minnesota loses a congressional seat, Bachmann's populous Sixth District could be carved into pieces. She likely would have to battle another incumbent to hang on to her seat. We've noticed that her anticensus rhetoric has lately ceased. We hope she got wise: Census compliance is not only in Minnesota's best interest, but also her own.

Another example of why elections matter...local edition. Winning state elections this year means carving up the spoils with re-distrcting next year.

Discuss...

[tanyev]

1. I think Michele may hear you coming for her, KharmaTrain.

I wonder how many props and visual aids her staff had to use to explain the situation to her so she finally STFU about it.

[BrklynLiberal]

2. LOL That karma really is a bitch.

[Blue Owl]

3. Shoot yourself in the foot, Michele

And then tell us how evil our socialist government is while you collect your personal federal farm subsidies.