Commerce Secretary Locke on U.S. Census

In an interview with NPR, newly-confirmed Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke discussed his role as overseer of the 2010 Census:

In his new role, Locke is responsible for roughly 40,000 employees and oversees everything from the U.S. Census to National Weather Service forecasts. One of the reasons Sen. Gregg withdrew his nomination was concern over whether the Commerce Department or the White House would run the census.

The results of the census' population and poverty counts have become politicized over the years. Minority communities say they have been chronically and historically undercounted, which affects their representation in Congress and their eligibility for federal funding for all sorts of federal programs. Republicans say that changes to the current system would result in overcounting.

Locke says he has been repeatedly assured by Obama and other White House officials that the census director would report to him.

"But of course, as in past administrations both Republican and Democrat, there has always been consultation, communication between the Census Bureau and Commerce and the White House — as well as members of Congress," Locke says. "Commerce wants to know how it's coming along — as does the White House."