Iowa could lose congressional seat
12/13/2005 08:21:35 AM
Posted: Tuesday, December 13, 2005
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- Population shifts to southern states will likely result in Iowa losing one of its five seats in the U.S. House after the 2010 census, said a consultant that specializes in redistricting.
It would be the second House seat Iowa has lost since the 1990 census.
Election Data Services, a Washington consulting firm that specializes in redistricting and other election analysis, predicts that Iowa, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania will lose seats after the 2010 census, based on 2004 census population estimates. Arizona, Florida, Texas and Utah would gain seats.
Kim Brace, president of EDS, said he sees little sign that growth trends in the South and West will change.
"Iowa is pretty certain in terms of losing a seat," he said. "People continue to go to where the nicer weather is, basically."
Some of the migration has to do with bone-chilling days like those the state has experienced this month. Census figures show Sun Belt states are fielding population increases while Snow Belt states are staying the same or losing.
Political analysts said losing a congressional representative can be significant.
"As a state, you lose influence in the House," said Arthur Sanders, a Drake University political scientist.
Sanders and others said Iowa could see less political support for federal farm subsidy programs that funnel billions of dollars into the state, less clout on highway bills, less help for Iowans having problems with the federal government, and the loss of a Congress member with seniority and familiarity with the state's key issues.
Ed Redfern, a consultant and former Iowa congressional aide, said he worries that Iowa might slip when it comes to influence in obtaining federal money. "It always helps to have more members," he said.
Spokeswomen for the state's Democratic and Republican parties said there has been no discussion among their leaders on the implications of losing another congressional seat.
Information from: The Des Moines Register, http://www.desmoinesregister.com
AP-CS-12-13-05 0121EST
It would be the second House seat Iowa has lost since the 1990 census.
Election Data Services, a Washington consulting firm that specializes in redistricting and other election analysis, predicts that Iowa, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania will lose seats after the 2010 census, based on 2004 census population estimates. Arizona, Florida, Texas and Utah would gain seats.
Kim Brace, president of EDS, said he sees little sign that growth trends in the South and West will change.
"Iowa is pretty certain in terms of losing a seat," he said. "People continue to go to where the nicer weather is, basically."
Some of the migration has to do with bone-chilling days like those the state has experienced this month. Census figures show Sun Belt states are fielding population increases while Snow Belt states are staying the same or losing.
Political analysts said losing a congressional representative can be significant.
"As a state, you lose influence in the House," said Arthur Sanders, a Drake University political scientist.
Sanders and others said Iowa could see less political support for federal farm subsidy programs that funnel billions of dollars into the state, less clout on highway bills, less help for Iowans having problems with the federal government, and the loss of a Congress member with seniority and familiarity with the state's key issues.
Ed Redfern, a consultant and former Iowa congressional aide, said he worries that Iowa might slip when it comes to influence in obtaining federal money. "It always helps to have more members," he said.
Spokeswomen for the state's Democratic and Republican parties said there has been no discussion among their leaders on the implications of losing another congressional seat.
Information from: The Des Moines Register, http://www.desmoinesregister.com
AP-CS-12-13-05 0121EST
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