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Population drop raises concern over House seats
Transcript Statehouse Bureau ^ | December 26 | Rebecca Fater

Posted on 12/26/2005 8:24:26 PM PST by george76

Massachusetts has lost thousands in population over the last two years, according to newly released U.S. Census numbers.

But the numbers do more than signal an...exodus from the Bay State...

It puts Massachusetts in danger of losing yet another congressional seat after 2010, when the House of Representatives is reapportioned.

"It's discouraging," said Phil Johnston, chairman of the state Democratic Party. "It means we're losing political clout with the Congress, and it's not good."

Since 1920, when Massachusetts had 16 representatives, the state has seen a steady decline, down to the current 10 representatives...

"It would be likely we would lose one (seat)," said U.S. Rep. Marty Meehan, D-Lowell. "But it's not out of the realm of possibility we could lose two."

Federal aid for various programs is distributed according to population, which means Massachusetts could start seeing fewer federal dollars...

One less seat also means less say in who becomes president of the United States.

"Assuming we lose a House seat, we lose a vote in the Electoral College, and someone else picks up a vote, (probably) in the south," ...

That means the more conservative southern states would have additional influence on the presidential pick.

Matt Wylie, executive director of the state's Republican Party, suggested Massachusetts legislators might have only themselves to blame.

"It's the will of the people," Wylie said, referring to a rollback of the state's income tax that voters supported in 2000, which the Legislature — controlled by the Democratic Party — has yet to perform.

"They ask for something and say this is what we expect to have happen. And when the (Democrats) don't do it, (the Democrats) say why are you leaving?"

(Excerpt) Read more at thetranscript.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: District of Columbia; US: Massachusetts
KEYWORDS: 109th; 2010; apportionment; boston; bush; bush43; census; democraticparty; electoralcollege; hightaxes; leaving; loseaseat; migration; tax; taxes; usa; uscensus; votewithyourfeet
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To: kylaka

61 posted on 12/26/2005 10:16:59 PM PST by george76 (Ward Churchill : Fake Indian, Fake Scholarship, and Fake Art)
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To: Tall_Texan
My gay younger brother and his partner are moving to Massachussetts from Florida because there "we'll be the majority". They were tired of living under two Bushes.

I would imagine they haven't seen a Bush they liked in years ...

62 posted on 12/26/2005 10:21:11 PM PST by fnord (497 1/2 feet of rope ... I just carry it)
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To: Liberty Valance

63 posted on 12/26/2005 11:14:16 PM PST by george76 (Ward Churchill : Fake Indian, Fake Scholarship, and Fake Art)
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To: catpuppy

Senator Kennedy is not that old. He was born in 1932.


64 posted on 12/27/2005 12:26:21 AM PST by kevinw
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To: AZ_Cowboy

After the 2010 census, we may see a swing of 10+ EVs from blue to red states..making the electoral math for a lib dem even harder..


65 posted on 12/27/2005 3:58:45 AM PST by ken5050 (Ann Coulter needs to have children ASAP to pass on her gene pool....any volunteers?)
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To: george76

Any time the amount of representation Mass. has in any govt body lessens it is a good thing
Hey Mass. you guys still voting for Kennedy and Franks?


66 posted on 12/27/2005 4:01:40 AM PST by Joe Boucher (an enemy of islam)
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To: fnord

lol!!

A FL boy checking in here-- good for the conservatives in Mass! Get your stuff, what's left of it, and get out now.


67 posted on 12/27/2005 4:04:44 AM PST by ovrtaxt (I looked for common sense with a telescope. All I could see was the moon of Uranus.)
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To: george76

Guy does have good hair, I'll give him that; and he does speak well, people think he sound pretentious but he actually reminds me of my dad, who was also from Massachusetts. Of course, when my dad spoke the things he said made sense, so that's the big difference.

John Francois would have made a good news reader, maybe it's not too late, he could take over for one of the retiring MSM news anchors.


68 posted on 12/27/2005 5:09:24 AM PST by jocon307 (Still mourning the loss of CBS FM)
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To: mvpel
Meanwhile, small-government, no-income-tax, no-sales-tax New Hampshire has seen a steady increase in population, and is poised for even more. I have at least half a dozen personal friends who have moved from Mass. to NH anywhere from 25 years to six months ago.

You should see the path that fleeing Californians have worn over the Sierra Nevada Mountains in their mass exodus to Nevada and Arizona......

69 posted on 12/27/2005 6:29:38 AM PST by Thermalseeker
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To: Liberty Wins

I haven't heard much from him lately. Has he been causing trouble again?


70 posted on 12/27/2005 6:42:54 AM PST by napscoordinator
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To: MichiganConservative

The 17th Amendment? Refresh me please...


71 posted on 12/27/2005 6:43:06 AM PST by AmericanDave (Woe is the Income Tax...... and more Cowbell...)
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To: george76
The remaining stupid MA voters should not be allowed to vote or be represented.

It is an affront to the rest of mankind that they send the scum of their State to our Congress.

72 posted on 12/27/2005 6:46:45 AM PST by cynicom
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To: AmericanDave

The 17th amendment allowed for the direct election of senators. Used to be the states would appoint them. With the 17th amendment, the states' voice was very much muffled and the federal government was strengthened in relation to the states. This country became less the republic the founders intended and more a democracy.


73 posted on 12/27/2005 7:00:46 AM PST by MichiganConservative (Government IS the problem.)
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74 posted on 12/27/2005 7:06:38 AM PST by Fixit (http://comedian.blogspot.com)
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To: george76
"Assuming we lose a House seat, we lose a vote in the Electoral College, and someone else picks up a vote, (probably) in the south," .

ALL REPUBLICANS LEAVE MASS NOW!! (Come to NJ, all the same, just warmer and less liberals!)
75 posted on 12/27/2005 7:11:58 AM PST by HHKrepublican_2 (OP Spread the Truth....http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1535158/posts)
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Comment #76 Removed by Moderator

To: ATOMIC_PUNK

I've always thought, (I would too, do this) that if it was for the betterment of my country. I'd leave NJ and move to a swing state. (Or atleast buy property and register to vote there) If more people vote GOP there, and the Population goes up, weve got ourselves a presidency!

(This has been tried with New Hampshire, just with libertarians cramming into a congressional district)


77 posted on 12/27/2005 7:14:29 AM PST by HHKrepublican_2 (OP Spread the Truth....http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1535158/posts)
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To: ozzymandus
Considering the people Mass elects, I think they shouldn't have any representation at all....

It's M'chusetts, because they send their "asses" to D.C.!

78 posted on 12/27/2005 7:15:29 AM PST by meandog (FUDU)
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To: quantim

Well the irish are moving out of massachusetts, and taking their six kids with them I hear that has a harsh affect on population (Its okay, im 100% Irish, and its true)


79 posted on 12/27/2005 7:17:11 AM PST by HHKrepublican_2 (OP Spread the Truth....http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1535158/posts)
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To: LdSentinal

Unfortunetly, the NY evacuees =) are heading right into NJ and throwing it even more left. The influx from PA and NC are keeping it balance for now.


80 posted on 12/27/2005 7:18:33 AM PST by HHKrepublican_2 (OP Spread the Truth....http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1535158/posts)
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