ASA Letter Urges President Barack Obama to Accelerate Appointment of Census Director

摘要

The ASA recently initiated a letter to President Barack Obama urging him to appoint a census director as soon as possible and to ensure the U.S. Census Bureau is shielded from partisan politics. The letter, which was signed by representatives of a number of professional societies representing a variety of fields, stresses the need for strong and decisive leadership of the bureau as the organization gears up for the 2010 Census.rn"In order to ensure that public confidence in the census is maintained, it is critical that the [U.S.] Census Bureau preserve its tradition of political independence and that a director be in place in the very near future so he or she can take an active role in all of the preparations for the 2010 census," said ASA President Sally MortonrnThe letter further recommends that the director selected should have "strong management and scientific skills, an understanding of the bureau's programs and surveys, and experience interacting with the administration, Congress and the various census stakeholders."