Skip to Content
Streetsblog USA home
Streetsblog USA home
Log In
Streetsblog Capitol Hill

Why Urban Residents Have a Bone to Pick With Vitter and Bennett

In a development that flew largely under the radar on Thursday, the Senate beat back an attempt by David Vitter (R-LA) and Bob Bennett (R-UT) to add a citizenship question to the 2010 U.S. Census, with the goal of no longer counting non-citizens as part of states' official populations.

sen_vitter.jpgSen. David Vitter (R-LA) (Photo: Chattahbox)

The Vitter-Bennett proposal would have had a significant effect on the reapportionment of congressional seats that occurs after every decennial Census, with independent demographers predicting a loss of five seats for California and one each for New York and Illinois. 

On the whole, metropolitan areas where immigrants are strongly represented -- think large, blue-state cities -- would be disproportionately impacted. Leaving aside the troubling symbolism of no longer counting non-citizens,  Vitter-Bennett also would likely cause a major shift in the distribution of federal transportation funds, a sizable chunk of which are given out according to population-based formulas.

So urban residents can rest easy knowing that the Senate defeated the Vitter-Bennett plan, right?

Maybe not. The clash over how the Census should count immigrant residents is still raging, and Democratic strategist Simon Rosenberg said last month that he expects "the Republican assault on the Census and reapportionment" to continue apace.

And although Vitter-Bennett never came to an up-or-down vote last week, it's worth looking at the vote to close off debate on the spending bill that served as a vehicle for the the Census issue. Every Republican voted to keep debating the bill, leaving the door open for Vitter-Bennett to be considered.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog USA

Is Sec. Duffy Holding NY Transit Hostage To Negotiate Away The Rest of America’s Transportation Future?

The federal Transportation secretary is using two large transit projects as a bargaining chip to bully Congress into passing a budget that could be disastrous for communities across the country.

October 3, 2025

Friday’s Headlines Shut It Down

The government shutdown looks like it will be just another excuse for the Trump administration to cancel transportation projects unless blue states bend the knee.

October 3, 2025

Can Pedestrian Pop-Ups Go Permanent in the U.S.?

Can temporary pedestrian pop-ups spur permanent change?

October 3, 2025

Talking Headways Podcast: Healthy Architecture, Healthy People

It is very unusual for an architecture project to pay any attention at all outside of the property line. And that has to change.

October 2, 2025

Report: A Third of Americans Can’t Rely On Cars — And 16 Million Have No Access At All

So why do we plan our cities like everyone can and does get behind the wheel every day?

October 2, 2025
See all posts