February 5, 2019
Washington, D.C.
Conservatives support efforts by the Trump administration to include a question about citizenship on the 2020 Census. We urge the administration to actively appeal any efforts by leftist groups and others to have it removed.
Questions about citizenship have a long history on the U.S. Census, having appeared regularly from 1820 through 1950, since it was proposed by Thomas Jefferson in 1800. It also appears regularly on the American Community Survey (ACS), which is sent to one out of every 38 households on an annual basis.
Contrary to leftist claims, asking such a question will not result in a threat of deportation to respondents, or a downturn in census participation. The question is about citizenship—not legal status—and the Census Bureau is constrained by statute in sharing information about individual respondents. There is also no evidence that it will reduce the count among “had to count” populations. The ACS has asked a similar question for over a decade, which has not depressed participation; ironically, it has also not drawn any complaints from the left. Before that, the Long Form Census that preceded the ACS also asked it, without any erosion in participation.
Counting the number of citizens and non-citizens is critical for two reasons. First, it helps determine an accurate allocation of more than $800 billion in federal resources every year. Second, and more importantly, it assists in enforcing voting rights laws across the country—a policy goal the left has claimed for years it supports.
We also raise issue with the rising use of national injunctions by District courts, as was done in the most recent ruling related to the census question. These injunctions allow District courts sweeping power to bind the entire country, beyond the scope of their current jurisdiction. We echo the comments of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas that they “appear inconsistent with longstanding limits on equitable relief and power of Article III courts. If their popularity continues, this court must address their legality.”
The judge’s ruling will, moreover, hand ever-increasing power to the administrative state, subtracting it from the executive power.
We urge the Trump administration to offer a full-throated defense of its citizenship question on the 2020 Census, and urge the Supreme Court to weigh in swiftly on the growing abuse of national injunctions by the District courts.
| The Honorable Edwin Meese III Attorney General President Ronald Reagan (1985-1988) |
Alfred S. Regnery Chairman, Conservative Action Project Chairman, Law Enforcement Legal Defense Fund |
| The Honorable Colin A. Hanna President Let Freedom Ring, Inc. |
Noah Wall Vice President of Advocacy FreedomWorks |
| The Honorable J. Kenneth Blackwell Former Chairman U.S. Census Monitoring Board |
Myron Ebell Director, Center for Energy and Environment Competitive Enterprise Institute |
| The Honorable Kenneth T. Cuccinelli, II President Senate Conservatives Fund |
The Honorable Jim DeMint Member, South Carolina United States Senate (2005-2013) |
| Rachel Bovard Policy Director Senate Steering Committee (2014-2015) |
Ed Corrigan Vice Chairman, Conservative Action Project Executive Director, Senate Steering Committee (2003-2012) |
| Jenny Beth Martin Chairman Tea Party Patriots Citizen Fund |
William L. Walton Chairman CNP Action, Inc. |
| The Honorable Becky Norton Dunlop White House Advisor President Ronald Reagan (1981-1985) |
David Bozell President ForAmerica |
| Adam Brandon President FreedomWorks |
The Honorable Bob McEwen U.S. House of Representatives Former Member, Ohio |
| Matt Schlapp Chairman American Conservative Union (ACU) |
Daniel Schneider Executive Director American Conservative Union (ACU) |
| Cleta Mitchell, Esq. Partner Foley & Lardner LLP |
The Honorable T. Kenneth Cribb, Jr. Chief Domestic Advisor President Ronald Reagan (1987-1988) |
| Tim Chapman Executive Director Heritage Action for America |
Kenneth A. Klukowski, Esq. General Counsel American Civil Rights Union |
| Lt. Gen. William G. Boykin (Ret.) Executive Vice President Family Research Council |
Thomas Fitton President Judicial Watch, Inc. |
| The Honorable David McIntosh President Club for Growth |
L. Brent Bozell, III Founder and President Media Research Center |
| David N. Bossie President Citizens United |
Dan Weber President Association of Mature American Citizens (AMAC) |
| The Honorable Gary L. Bauer President American Values |
The Honorable Charles J. Cooper Assistant Attorney General, President Ronald Reagan Cooper & Kirk, PLLC |
| Alan P. Dye Partner Webster, Chamberlain & Bean |
Ron Robinson President Young America’s Foundation |
| Ellen Barrosse Chairman RNC Conservative Steering Committee |
Jim Backlin Vice President of Legislative Affairs Christian Coalition of America |
| Rod D. Martin Founder and CEO The Martin Organization, Inc. |
Sherri R. Martin Executive Vice President The Martin Organization, Inc. |
| Haley E. Martin President The Martin Foundation |
Nicholas Stehle Campaign for the American Future |
| Shawn A. Mitchell Former National Chaplain National Federation of Republican Assemblies (NFRA) |
Jerry Melvin Former Dean Florida House of Representatives |
| Ralph Benko Principal RalphBenko.com |
Dr. Jerome R. Corsi, Ph.D. Founder and CEO CorsiNation.com |
| Susan A. Carleson Chairman/CEO American Civil Rights Union |
Tim LeFever Chairman Capitol Resource Institute |
| Kay R. Daly President Coalition for a Fair Judiciary |
Jenna Ellis Director of Public Policy James Dobson Family Institute |
| Rebecca Hagelin Secretary Council for National Policy |
Bob Adams President Revive America PAC |
| Charlie Gerow Vice Chairman American Conservative Union |
Rebekah Gantner Executive Director Eagle Forum Education & Legal Defense Fund |
| Ed Martin President Phyllis Schlafly Eagles |
Joan Holt Lindsey President Lindsey Communications |
| Robert D. Thompson Former Administrator The Weyrich Lunch (1999-2016) |
Richard D. Hayes Attorney Hayes, Berry, White & Vanzant, LLP |
| Craig Dance President / CEO Champion Coach Inc. |
Tim Wildmon President American Family Association |
| The Honorable George K. Rasley, Jr. Managing Editor ConservativeHQ.com |
Andresen Blom President Hawaiian Values |
| Ron Pearson Executive Director Conservative Victory Fud |
The Honorable Tom DeLay Former Majority Leader U.S. House of Representatives |
| The Honorable Jake Hoffman President & CEO Rally Forge |
Peter Thomas Chairman The Conservative Caucus |
| Charlie Copeland President Intercollegiate Studies Institute |
The Honorable Penny Pullen Former State Representative Illinois General Assembly |
| Lew Uhler President National Tax Limitation Committee |
Seton Motley President Less Government |
| Sal Russo Co-Founder and Chief Strategist Tea Party Express |
The Honorable Mike Spence Founding President Conservative Republicans of California |
| Elaine Donnelly President Center for Military Readiness |
Eric Georgatos Principal Trident Advisors |
| Allen Hebert Chairman American-Chinese Fellowship of Houston |
Lee Beaman CEO Beaman Automotive Group |
| Richard Wright CEO AAndrews Consulting , LLC |
Robert K. Fischer Meeting Coordinator Conservatives of Faith |
| Dr. Ron Seeley Member Council for National Policy |
William Shaker CEO Washington Marketing Group |
| Jim Clymer Vice President Conservative Legal Defense and Education Fund |
Tim Macy Chairman Gun Owners of America |
| William W. Pascoe, III Board Member Tea Party Patriots Action |
Roxanne Phillips Member, Executive Committee Council for National Policy |
| Jeff Hunt Director Centennial Institute |
Kevin Freeman Founder NSIC Institute |
| James L. Martin Founder/Chairman 60 Plus Association |
Saulius “Saul” Anuzis President 60 Plus Association |
| Kelly Monroe Kullberg President America Conservancy |
Mario Navarro da Costa Director, Washington Bureau Tradition, Family, Property |
| J. Christian Adams President Public Interest Legal Foundation |
C. Preston Noell, III President Tradition, Family, Property, Inc. |
| Willes K. Lee President National Federation of Republican Assemblies |
Chad Connelly President Faith Wins |
| Floyd Brown Chairman America Fighting Back PAC |
Curt Levey President Committee for Justice |
| The Honorable Mike Hill Representative Florida State House |
Christopher Malagisi Host Conservative Book Club Podcast |
| Bob Carlstrom President The Carlstrom Group, LLC |
Craig Shirley Reagan Biographer Presidential Historian |
| Richard A. Viguerie Chairman ConservativeHQ.com |
Rick Manning President Americans for Limited Government |
| Allen Roth President Secure America Now |
Carolee Adams President Eagle Forum of New Jersey |
| The Honorable James C. Miller III Budget Director for President Reagan |
Joseph A. Morris Attorney / Partner Morris & De La Rosa |
| Benjamin R. Case Chief Executive Officer Focused On Fundraising |
Caroline C. Lewis Owner Percipio Communications |
| The Honorable Michael R. Long State Chairman NYS Conservative Party |
Amy Kremer Chairman Women for Trump |
| Mark Fitzgibbons President of Corporate Affairs American Target Advertising, Inc. |
Anne Schlafly Cori Chairman Eagle Forum |
| Peggy Dau Representative Iran Alive |
Ellen Grigsby Director of Institutional Partnerships Open Doors USA |
| Dr. Richard Rounsavelle Trustee Media Research Center |
The Honorable Donald Hodel Former Secretary of Energy, President Reagan Former Secretary of Interior, President Reagan |
| Steve Berger Pastor Grace Chapel |
Lisa Calvert Christian speaker and teacher Rabon-Calvert Int. |
| Carrie L. Lukas President Independent Women’s Forum |
Heather R. Higgins CEO Independent Women’s Voice |
| Jeremy Cerone CEO EliteSafe Inc. |
The Honorable Belden Bell Legacy Co-Chair The Heritage Foundation |
| The Honorable Somers White President Somers White Co. Inc. |
Kathleen Patten President & CEO American Target Advertising |
| Penna Dexter Co-host Point of View Radio |
Kent Glesener President Paradigm Construction & Engineering, Inc. |
| Christie Glesener President Shofar International Foundation |
Jack Park Conservative Activist and Donor |
| Taylor Gillespie Administrative Assistant SBPA |
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