Trump Floats New Idea on Census Question

Suggests citizenship query could be a printed as an addendum
By Newser Editors,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 5, 2019 12:10 PM CDT
Trump Floats New Idea on Census Question
President Trump talks to reporters on the South Lawn of the White House before departing for his Bedminster, N.J., golf club, Friday, July 5, 2019, in Washington.   (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

The idea of adding a citizenship question to the 2020 census is currently in limbo, but President Trump says administration lawyers have "four or five" possible ways to still make it happen, reports USA Today. One of them is to print an addendum to the census, which would be rolled out if the administration wins the legal fight over the matter. "We'll see what happens,” Trump said, per the Washington Post. “We could start the printing now and maybe do an addendum after we get a positive decision." Trump also confirmed that he is considering issuing an executive order to add the question. In the meantime, the government has begun printing the 2020 questionnaires, but without the citizenship question.

Trump called the Supreme Court decision blocking the administration's plan to add the question as "very shocking," but he emphasized that Chief Justice John Roberts left open the possibility of adding the question. In his decision, Roberts ruled that Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross' rationale for the question—to better enforce the Voting Rights Act—was inadequate. “The judge didn’t like it," said Trump. "I have a lot of respect for Justice Roberts. But he didn’t like it, but he did say come back. Essentially, he said come back.” The administration is supposed to report back to a federal judge on the next steps Friday afternoon. (More US Census stories.)

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