Hoyer: Census 'doesn't exist to score political points'

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) on Thursday said "the census doesn't exist to score political points" in response to a Republican amendment that would exclude illegal immigrants from being counted.

Sens. David Vitter (R-La.) and Bob Bennett (R-Utah) introduced a controversial amendment to a Senate spending bill that would would require the census to include a question about an individual's citizenship or immigration status. 

Vitter previously accused Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) of wanting to include illegal immigrants in the census, alleging that doing so would skew the reapportionment of Congressional seats, which is based on the census, in favor of Democrats.

But Hoyer counted Vitter's efforts, saying in prepared remarks that "the census doesn’t exist to score political points -- It exists to give us an accurate picture of our country."

He continued, saying that "adding a new question to the census, especially at this late date, would be damaging and irresponsible. That's also the opinion of every living Director of the Census."

Hoyer also said that such an effort would discourage legal immigrants from participating.

"It would also lead to an inaccurate count. With a question about citizenship, immigrants who fear being deported, along with their families and friends, are much more likely to avoid the census," he said.

The majority leader echoed the calls of many lawmakers, saying that including such a questions would be costly and wasteful because it would involve reprinting new census materials and destroying old forms.

Rep. Joe Baca (D-Calif.) yesterday introduced a bill that would ensure all U.S. residents -- potentially including illegals -- are counted.