Lively Discussion Held on Census 2000 Sampling Methods

Just days after the Supreme Court's ruling on using sampling as part of Census 2000, leaders from Congress and the Administration voiced their differing interpretations of the ruling under the glare of C-SPAN lights.  U.S. Representative Dan Miller (R-FL), Chair of the House Census Subcommittee asserted that the ruling prohibits sampling for all purposes, including apportionment and redistricting, while his counterpart on the committee, Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY), said that the ruling prohibited sampling for apportionment, but requires it for redistricting and the distribution of funds.

Robert J. Shapiro, the President's representative at the session, agreed with Maloney and reported that the Census plans on using sampling to achieve the most accurate count as possible.

In a session closed to the public, Philadelphia Mayor Edward Rendell led mayors in a discussion of gun-related legislative and litigation strategies.  In interviews with ABC, CNN, CBS and other media after the session, both Rendell and Gary (IN) Mayor Scott King stressed the strategies were focused on making guns safer for the public.

Mayors and banking officials from the Federal Home Loan Bank System and Federal Housing Finance Board discussed the financing options available to local governments as they try to redevelop brownfield sites.

Representative Jim Leach, Chair of the Banking and Financial Services Committee, and EPA Administrator Carol Browner, both emphasized that it would take a multitude of resources to provide the tools necessary to encourage brownfields redevelopment.