8 States Poised to Lose House Seats: Census

Northeast, Midwest would lose seats if today's census was used

(NEWSER) - The South is gaining population and power at the expense of the Northeast and Midwest, according to Census Bureau estimates released yesterday. If House seats were distributed based on the estimates, which are believed to be a strong predictor of the 2010 census results, Texas would be the big winner, gaining three seats, with Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, South Carolina, Utah, and Washington each adding one. More»

Magnet states in West, South lose residents; Texas gains the most

(NEWSER) - The recession has turned migration patterns on their heads in the last year. So-called magnet states in the West and South aren't so magnetic anymore, with Florida and Nevada starkly illustrating the trend. Earlier this decade, they both topped the growth charts, but now see more people on the way out than on the way in. Florida “was a growth machine,” a demographer tells the Washington Post . “And it just sort of stopped.” More»

Ariz., Fla., Ill., Mich., and NJ among others facing crises

(NEWSER) - California has by no means cornered the market on enormous financial problems at the state level, with a report out today saying Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin are also at tremendous risk. The Pew Center sees widespread unemployment, huge budget deficits, and the ongoing foreclosure crisis as common factors—plus various constraints that keep many of the states from raising taxes. More»

(NEWSER) - Residents of the nation’s capital are poised to finally have a vote in Congress, the AP reports. Debate opened today on a bill that would give Washington’s 600,000 residents a House seat, and with a Democratic Congress and president in place, it might pass this time. Democrats outnumber Republicans 4-to-1 in the District, but Republican-leaning Utah would get an additional seat under the bill. More»

One in 501 US households hit with filings last month as crisis rolls on

(AP) - The number of homeowners stung by the rout in the US housing market jumped last month as foreclosure filings grew by 53% over June a year ago, according to data released today. One in every 501 US households was hit with a foreclosure filing last month. More»