Just over a month ago I wrote that we should plan ahead concerning the 2030 Census. There have been articles written on the subject and bills have been introduced in Congress. Projections have been made what the Electoral College might look like after the next Census and redistricting. It is time to study up on the topic and make your views known.

Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) and seventeen other Republican Senators have joined Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN) in reintroducing the Equal Representation Act. This legislation will ensure only legal citizens are factored into the census count when it comes to Congressional Districts and the Electoral College. Senator Johnson commented ”This bill ensures that congressional seats are apportioned based solely on U.S. citizens, protecting the integrity of our democratic system. Americans deserve to have their voices fully represented in Congress, not diluted by those who entered the country illegally.”

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA-14) has proposed a bill to only count American citizens when it comes to apportionment, as the House of Representatives only represents American citizens and their interests. She has labeled the legislation Making American Elections Great Again. This bill will also include requiring proof of citizenship for federal elections. Rep. Greene is pleased to have the support of President Donald J. Trump for this effort. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has also voiced support.

H.R. 151, also called “Equal Representation Act”, had been introduced in early January by Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-NC-11) with 59 Republican co-sponsors. Three of the co-sponsors are from Wisconsin: Rep. Tom Tiffany (7th), Rep. Glenn Grothman (6th), and Rep. Scott Fitzgerald (5th). A similar bill passed in the House in the previous Congress, but with a Biden-Harris team in the White House, it was doomed to failure. With President Trump’s interest and support, and a Republican majority in both chambers, these efforts should be successful!

Along with this legislative action, there are projections of what the Electoral College might look like after the next census. Depending on which map you pick, eight states are projected to lose Representatives and five –maybe six – are projected to gain Representatives. The big losers will be California (-3 or -4) and New York (-2). The big winners will be Florida (+4) and Texas (+4). Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Illinois are all projected to lose a seat. Another projection has Wisconsin staying with eight Representatives.

One of the projections included a very interesting discussion and additional data on ethnic and regional movement. It even admitted the uncertainties, given the census is almost five years in the future. It mentioned the Trump administration could carry through on a campaign promise to deport millions of undocumented immigrants and their families. Another concern is the forced reduction in the number of foreign student visas.

A month ago the original article on the 2030 Census ended with some questions. A new question should be “Why are we counting guests (foreign students) in our census?” It is time to ask the question again “Why do Wisconsin colleges have non-resident tuition if all of the students are residents on Census Day?”

Why can’t students, and military people, vote at their legal residence? (Military call it “Home of Record” while many students call it “Mom & Dad’s”.)

Once again, “we the people” need to look at the issues of the day and ask the tough questions, such as why are we counting non-citizens for redistricting purposes? Concerning this, questions might be similar but might be a little different for federal or state legislators. All of your legislators need to know your constructive comments and your questions on the 2030 Census.