From: Whipple, Deb (GOV)
Sent: Thursday, April 01, 2010 4:57 PM
Subject: What the Governor is talking about today
What the Governor’s Talking about Today
Thursday, April 1, 2010
 
Governor Urges Michigan Citizens to Complete and Return Their Census Forms
 
The governor today participated in a 2010 Census event at the State Capitol to urge Michigan citizens to complete and mail back their census forms.
 
“I am counting on every Michigan citizen to fill out their census form and mail it back,” the governor said. “Census data helps determine how more than $400 billion in federal funds each year are allocated to states and local communities for critical services like health care, job-training, education and infrastructure projects.  During these tough economic times, Michigan can’t afford to be shortchanged.”
 
Key messages:
 
•  April 1 is National Census Day.  We need everyone who lives in Michigan to fill out their census form and return it.
 
•  Completing the census form this year is easier than ever — it’s only 10 questions, and takes most people no more than 10 minutes.
 
•  Information collected in the census is strictly confidential and by law it cannot be shared with anyone — not the IRS, not child support agencies, not credit agencies, not anyone.  It has always been kept confidential, and will be again this year.
 
•  Mailing back your form is important.  If you don’t, a census worker will visit your home to collect the data.  Mailing back your form also saves tax dollars.  The federal government saves $85 million for every 1 percent increase in mail participation.
 
•  The census is important because an accurate count ensures that we’ll have fair representation in Congress, and that we’ll get back our fair share of funding from the federal government.
 
•  The general rule of thumb is that for every person not counted, Michigan communities miss out on $1,000 in federal funding per year for a decade — that’s a total of $10,000 per person lost in federal funding over the next 10 years.  That’s money we send to Washington by paying taxes, and if we don’t get it, other states will.  Michigan cannot afford to be shortchanged.
 
•  It’s estimated, based on the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, that more than 178,000 Michigan residents were missed in the 2000 Census, causing Michigan to lose out on about $2 billion in federal funding in the last 10 years. 
 
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