Stand up and be counted

In March, you will be receiving a short questionnaire from the U.S. Census Bureau as part of the 2010 Census. I urge you to complete and return this form at your earliest convenience. The amount of federal funding we receive depends on your participation.

Conducted once every 10 years to count the number of people living in this country, the Census helps federal, state and local governments make sure the right amount of funding, programs and services come to our area. Every year over $400 billion in federal funding is allocated to states based on the results. 

In the meantime, if you're looking for work, you can apply to become part of the 2010 Census Team. A temporary job with the U.S. Census Bureau can mean:

• good pay, paid weekly
• flexible hours
• paid training
• reimbursement for authorized mileage and other work-related expenses.

More information about jobs, including a practice test, is available online www.2010censusjobs.gov or by calling call the toll-free jobs line at 1-866-861-2010.

To learn more about the 2010 Census, check the link on my Web site. For more information about this or any other state-related matter, please contact me.