Gov. Charlie Crist

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20100203/ARTICLE/2031035?Title=Census-has-Crist-and-Rubio-at-odds

SENATE RACE: Governor’s rival opposes inclusion of illegal immigrants in count
By GARY FINEOUT
H-T Capital Correspondent

Published: Wednesday, February 3, 2010 at 1:00 a.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, February 2, 2010 at 10:25 p.m

TALLAHASSEE – Republican U.S. Senate candidate Marco Rubio has come out against including illegal immigrants in the national census — even though doing so could significantly reduce Florida’s political power and share of federal funding.

Rubio’s stance sets him at odds not only with Gov. Charlie Crist, but also with Republicans in the Florida Legislature who are cranking up efforts to track down and find every resident who lives in the state.

Rubio’s opposition is largely theoretical — the census has already started and illegals are being counted — but it reflects his efforts to appeal to hard-line conservatives in the contest against the more moderate Crist.

The census will have vast political and financial ramifications for the state, with some estimates suggesting that Florida may pick up additional seats in Congress after it is finished.

A Census Bureau representative said on Tuesday that $400 billion in federal aid is determined by formulas that rely on population numbers derived from the census.

When asked whether illegal immigrants should count on things like the number of seats that Florida should have in Congress, Rubio initially said last week that he was not sure and that he wanted to “research it more.”

For more please visit http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20100203/ARTICLE/2031035?Title=Census-has-Crist-and-Rubio-at-odds