Repugs drumming up phony controversy over census. [View All]

[jefferson_dem]

White House Denies Meddling In Census
Posted by Mark Knoller| 69

(CBS/AP) A White House spokesman denies Republican congressional charges that the White House is "taking the unprecedented step of moving control of the Census Bureau" to "political operatives on the White House staff."

The charge is made in a letter House Republicans - including Minority Leader John Boehner - sent yesterday President Obama - calling on him to "reconsider and reverse this harmful course of action."

In response to questions from CBS News, spokesman Ben LaBolt says the charge is not accurate.

He says the Census Bureau and the agency's director will continue to work at the Commerce Department.

However, the spokesman says that "White House senior management will work closely with the Census Director, given the number of decisions that will need to reach the president's desk."

The White House also says the same congressional committees that had oversight of the Census Bureau during the previous administration will retain that authority.

Boehner and other House Republicans also used a news conference today to express concerns that the White House will "undermine the goal of having a fair and accurate census."

http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/02/12/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry4797600.shtml?CMP=OTC-RSSFeed&source=RSS&attr=PoliticalHotsheet_4797600