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Count illegal aliens in Census? The latest Crist-Rubio dustup

Posted Feb 3, 2010 by William March

Updated Feb 3, 2010 at 05:33 PM

Should the U.S. Census count illegal aliens? That’s the subject of the latest dustup between Gov. Charlie Crist and Marco Rubio.

Rubio: No, they shouldn’t be counted, because Census population numbers help determine allocation of congressional seats, which should represent only legal residents of the U.S.

Crist: They should be counted, because Census figures also affect amounts of federal grants. If they’re not counted, the state will be shortchanged. Crist also contends that the hard-line, anti-illegal immigration view is new for Rubio, and that he didn’t take such stances as former state House speaker.

The opposing views were outlined in a Sarasota Herald Tribune story today, with Crist saying it’s “absurd” for a state with severe budget needs to refuse federal money “to make a point,” and Rubio saying he can’t support a congressional reapportionment process based on a count that includes illegals.

While the two GOP Senate primary contenders bash each other, Democrat Kendrick Meek wants to end-around them.

“Governor Crist and Speaker Rubio are focused on a petty intra-party fight that puts ideology over the concerns of everyday Floridians,” says a statement from Meek campaign manager Abe Dyk. “Kendrick Meek is focused on creating jobs for all Floridians, not playing political games.”