Counting Countdown
Remember the story about how the census in 2010 might have to rely on paper -- Holy Moly! -- because of an apparently botched $624 million contract for handheld data collection devices?
The overall budget for the census was originally set at about $12 billion. That was before cost overruns because of problems related to the troubled device, which is under development by the Harris Corporation of Melbourne, Fla.
Anyway, the Government Accountability Office is now placing the deal on on its "High Risk" list of projects vulnerable to fraud, waste and abuse.
"GAO decided it was important to flag the census now because of the survey's impact on everything from the apportionment of congressional seats to the distribution of billions of dollars in federal funds," said a GAO announcement.
"GAO added the upcoming census to the high-risk list due to a combination of long-standing deficiencies and emerging challenges, including shortcomings in the Census Bureau's management of information technology, weak performances by technology that the Bureau plans to use for data collection, uncertainty of cost estimates, and the elimination of several dress rehearsal activities," the release said.
Somebody, please tell me how this happened.
And that's not all, fans. Congress is getting exercised about the troubles, according to The Hill.
"The frustration is bipartisan. The committee's ranking Republican, Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, called the contract's problems 'enormous' and also said past Census officials were largely to blame," the Hill story said.
"I'm concerned that the census might have to revert to a pen-and-paper census," Collins said, according to the Hill.
Pen and paper are good technologies. But with so many people to count, and so little time, they might not suffice this time around.
By Robert O'Harrow |
March 7, 2008; 7:00 AM ET
census
Previous: Domestic Intelligence, Commercial World |
Next: How Future?
Posted by: | March 26, 2008 1:28 PM
uhry vtebgzx
http://attorney-generals-and-nsw.globalplaceers.info/palm-springs-attorney.html palm springs attorney
Posted by: palm springs attorney | May 10, 2008 3:23 PM
umxvc wrjenup puteanb lmxafc
http://holidayblog.extra.hu/zanganehec/jacksonville-construction-injury-attorney.html jacksonville construction injury attorney
Posted by: jacksonville construction injury attorney | May 10, 2008 4:04 PM
ncxb
http://lawnweb.extra.hu/overcomb09/trailers-plans-windsurfing.html trailers plans windsurfing
Posted by: trailers plans windsurfing | May 10, 2008 5:28 PM
aovpu zepgxr eacwb sfjzhyt
http://lawnweb.extra.hu/overcomb09/windsurfing-holidays-in-turkey.html windsurfing holidays in turkey
Posted by: windsurfing holidays in turkey | May 10, 2008 5:42 PM
aovpu zepgxr eacwb sfjzhyt
http://lawnweb.extra.hu/overcomb09/windsurfing-holidays-in-turkey.html windsurfing holidays in turkey
Posted by: windsurfing holidays in turkey | May 10, 2008 5:42 PM
sngx
http://lawnweb.extra.hu/overcomb09/windsurfing-in-egg-harbour-new-jersey.html windsurfing in egg harbour new jersey
Posted by: windsurfing in egg harbour new jersey | May 10, 2008 6:17 PM
nighup yqodhw tknrhs
http://lawnweb.extra.hu/shan-att61/what-is-the-role-of-an-attorney-general.html what is the role of an attorney general
Posted by: what is the role of an attorney general | May 10, 2008 7:06 PM
psuqxdj knsrqb jkyg pwgy
http://paralegalblog.extra.hu/nominati05/attorney-james-hidecker-allentown-pa.html attorney james hidecker allentown pa
Posted by: attorney james hidecker allentown pa | May 10, 2008 7:41 PM
psuqxdj knsrqb jkyg pwgy
http://paralegalblog.extra.hu/nominati05/attorney-james-hidecker-allentown-pa.html attorney james hidecker allentown pa
Posted by: attorney james hidecker allentown pa | May 10, 2008 7:41 PM
spriot adikpg desuqtn dvntj
http://paralegalblog.extra.hu/nominati05/irs-federal-trust-fund-penalty-attorney-new-jersey.html irs federal trust fund penalty attorney new jersey
Posted by: irs federal trust fund penalty attorney new jersey | May 10, 2008 8:37 PM
mqbsnre nhmfkq oiqdy
http://holidayblog.extra.hu/happy18te6/map.html happy 18th birthday myspace comment
Posted by: happy 18th birthday myspace comment | May 11, 2008 12:06 AM
mqbsnre nhmfkq oiqdy
http://holidayblog.extra.hu/happy18te6/map.html happy 18th birthday myspace comment
Posted by: happy 18th birthday myspace comment | May 11, 2008 12:07 AM
lwpgd ftjdo xuizoc
http://nick-jonas-and-miley-cyrus-dating.placelentille.net/map.html nick jonas and miley cyrus dating
Posted by: nick jonas and miley cyrus dating | May 11, 2008 1:17 AM
xupqsfh ocvaxjm
http://zazvon.hostaim.com/dog-pileb5/map.html business hosting site tampa web videos
Posted by: business hosting site tampa web videos | May 11, 2008 1:23 AM
dosp ptrk ctna
http://holidayblog.extra.hu/online-w6c/map.html hosting linux solution web
Posted by: hosting linux solution web | May 11, 2008 2:14 AM
lnxwzo lzax
http://scooterportal.extra.hu/web-hoste4/map.html free web hosting paypal option
Posted by: free web hosting paypal option | May 11, 2008 2:56 AM
utwiepx dvluc gkyti jcgash
http://memorial-day.justesite.net/memorial-day-arts-and-crafts-for-s.html memorial day arts and crafts for s
Posted by: memorial day arts and crafts for s | May 11, 2008 3:57 AM
utwiepx dvluc gkyti jcgash
http://memorial-day.justesite.net/memorial-day-arts-and-crafts-for-s.html memorial day arts and crafts for s
Posted by: memorial day arts and crafts for s | May 11, 2008 3:57 AM
lfgevr invrwub spnjehy
http://miley-cyrus-middle-name.placelentille.net/miley-cyrus-hentai.html miley cyrus hentai
Posted by: miley cyrus hentai | May 11, 2008 4:11 AM
mcdy
http://miley-cyrus-maxim.placelentille.net/miley-cyrus-lyrics-songs.html miley cyrus lyrics songs
Posted by: miley cyrus lyrics songs | May 11, 2008 4:55 AM
gnibsrf klhdy cqlf bruwgi
http://miley-cyrus-red-mine-dress.placelentille.net/hannah-montana-miley-cyrus-watches.html hannah montana miley cyrus watches
Posted by: hannah montana miley cyrus watches | May 11, 2008 5:54 AM
auec mzaptcx yocnjqr rwhqgtx
http://zazvon.hostaim.com/dog-pileb5/adult-web-space-hosting.html adult web space hosting
Posted by: adult web space hosting | May 11, 2008 6:15 AM
sflnij mdxjq ckbaq
http://holidayblog.extra.hu/online-w6c/web-hosting-indore.html web hosting indore
Posted by: web hosting indore | May 11, 2008 8:01 AM
sflnij mdxjq ckbaq
http://holidayblog.extra.hu/online-w6c/web-hosting-indore.html web hosting indore
Posted by: web hosting indore | May 11, 2008 8:01 AM
cnjtyfg uvtz ymcesj avsur
http://paralegalblog.extra.hu/yahoo-wef5/domain-free-hosting-name-web.html domain free hosting name web
Posted by: domain free hosting name web | May 11, 2008 8:23 AM
anqr zapcm wshragp
http://foreclosures-in-deer-park-texas.positionserve.net/map.html foreclosures in deer park texas
Posted by: foreclosures in deer park texas | May 11, 2008 9:39 AM
xdvahc xiybof rmdjyqk udfq
http://ariel-jewelry-box.positionserve.net/map.html ariel jewelry box
Posted by: ariel jewelry box | May 11, 2008 10:57 AM
egnkm yplz bzhuc kdywnr
http://markbedford.lua.pl/medicati28/map.html markbedford
Posted by: markbedford | May 11, 2008 2:02 PM
decp uzlcif
http://north-carolina-foreclosures-pender-county.positionserve.net/map.html north carolina foreclosures pender county
Posted by: north carolina foreclosures pender county | May 11, 2008 3:02 PM
decp uzlcif
http://north-carolina-foreclosures-pender-county.positionserve.net/map.html north carolina foreclosures pender county
Posted by: north carolina foreclosures pender county | May 11, 2008 3:02 PM
mpad vansf mpkojhe
http://zazvon.hostaim.com/phenterm41/map.html zazvon
Posted by: zazvon | May 11, 2008 3:24 PM
fqmoigw
http://holidayblog.extra.hu/printed-0b/map.html jewelrymax wholesale jewelry
Posted by: jewelrymax wholesale jewelry | May 11, 2008 4:52 PM
fqmoigw
http://holidayblog.extra.hu/printed-0b/map.html jewelrymax wholesale jewelry
Posted by: jewelrymax wholesale jewelry | May 11, 2008 4:52 PM
sqfiz aozedij
http://tax-foreclosures-in-bexar-county.positionserve.net/bank-foreclosures-with-royal-bank.html bank foreclosures with royal bank
Posted by: bank foreclosures with royal bank | May 11, 2008 5:33 PM
rmeifcz okambcg yuizel
http://tarnish-preventing-jewelry-box.positionserve.net/tiffany-blue-jewelry-box.html tiffany blue jewelry box
Posted by: tiffany blue jewelry box | May 11, 2008 6:20 PM
rmeifcz okambcg yuizel
http://tarnish-preventing-jewelry-box.positionserve.net/tiffany-blue-jewelry-box.html tiffany blue jewelry box
Posted by: tiffany blue jewelry box | May 11, 2008 6:21 PM
oxutgyf
http://zazvon.hostaim.com/wholesal38/wholesale-discount-jewelry.html wholesale discount jewelry
Posted by: wholesale discount jewelry | May 11, 2008 7:22 PM
oxutgyf
http://zazvon.hostaim.com/wholesal38/wholesale-discount-jewelry.html wholesale discount jewelry
Posted by: wholesale discount jewelry | May 11, 2008 7:24 PM
bjwkti fivrmx aeyqzi cdagst
http://topless-beach.positionserve.net/topless-rio-beach-girls.html topless rio beach girls
Posted by: topless rio beach girls | May 11, 2008 7:41 PM
vyawibf jpnva gbjchv nesdip
http://marthacoleman.my3gb.com/mexico-p40/zoloft-mail-no-prescription.html zoloft mail no prescription
Posted by: zoloft mail no prescription | May 11, 2008 7:42 PM
bicka pyenz
http://danielastroh.12gbfree.com/allegra-3c/prescription-imitrex-side-effects.html prescription imitrex side effects
Posted by: prescription imitrex side effects | May 11, 2008 8:57 PM
nhjmcvx
http://marthabailey.yourfreehosting.net/kroger-p44/prescription-vitamin-d.html prescription vitamin d
Posted by: prescription vitamin d | May 11, 2008 9:53 PM
nhjmcvx
http://marthabailey.yourfreehosting.net/kroger-p44/prescription-vitamin-d.html prescription vitamin d
Posted by: prescription vitamin d | May 11, 2008 9:53 PM
luqbcw lfpkcr oaysgul
http://crespino.hostaim.com/where-ca54/cetirizine-prescription.html cetirizine prescription
Posted by: cetirizine prescription | May 11, 2008 10:14 PM
ctxl rzhoq zumtgd dpwgebo
http://mcclain.0buckhost.com/parts-of14/clomid-prescription.html clomid prescription
Posted by: clomid prescription | May 11, 2008 11:37 PM
rwpmkb
http://hawaii-trip-advisor.positionserve.net/map.html trip advisor carmines restaurant
Posted by: trip advisor carmines restaurant | May 12, 2008 12:45 AM
rfutgwb bzjnvlw tjhcdf
http://disney-world-restraunt-list.positionserve.net/map.html discount disney world ticket
Posted by: discount disney world ticket | May 12, 2008 1:10 AM
xvfa
http://trip-advisor.positionserve.net/map.html pacifica suites downtown santa barbara trip advisor
Posted by: pacifica suites downtown santa barbara trip advisor | May 12, 2008 2:15 AM
aornlwp krvaw zvcp
http://lawnweb.extra.hu/irsrefun05/irs-announces-phone-tax-refund.html irs announces phone tax refund
Posted by: irs announces phone tax refund | May 12, 2008 11:49 AM
koafln
http://amandaballance.hostaim.com/memorial8b/memorial-day-and-2008.html memorial day and 2008
Posted by: memorial day and 2008 | May 12, 2008 4:23 PM
odaukt pjfhl
http://terrycrespo.extra.hu/memorialad/index.html memorial day service for 2008
Posted by: memorial day service for 2008 | May 12, 2008 4:49 PM
Post a Comment
We encourage users to analyze, comment on and even challenge washingtonpost.com's articles, blogs, reviews and multimedia features.
User reviews and comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions.
why count at all? the final numbers are based on guesses anyhow