Reps. Steil, Ball, Booher, Casperson, Emmons, Green, Hansen, Hoogendyk, Rick Jones, LaJoy, Meekhof, Moolenaar, Palmer, Pastor, Rocca, Shaffer, Stahl, Stakoe and Walker offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 10.

            A resolution to memorialize the United States Congress to adopt and present to the states for ratification an amendment to the United States Constitution to prohibit the counting of illegal immigrants in the tabulations of population for purposes of apportioning members of Congress among the states.

            Whereas, Due to lax enforcement of immigration laws, there are more than 9.3 million noncitizens currently living in the United States. Unfortunately, the United States Constitution does not prohibit the Census Bureau from counting noncitizens in the tabulations of population for purposes of apportioning members of Congress among the states. This is a serious problem because it undermines the principle of "one man, one vote." For example, states like Michigan that are composed almost entirely of American citizens lose representation to states with immigrant-heavy Congressional districts. Further, it provides a few states with the incentive to knowingly give refuge to illegal aliens, resulting in the loss of political clout of Michigan and eight other states; and

            Whereas, In 2000, an estimated 5.3 million noncitizens in California were counted by the Census Bureau. In one Californian district, more than 260,000 noncitizens, or 43 percent of the district's population, were tabulated, a ratio of almost four noncitizens for every voter. As a result, it took fewer than 35,000 votes to win the district compared to almost 100,000 votes to win a typical Congressional race in Michigan. If only legal citizens were counted, California would have been allocated six fewer seats in the House of Representatives. In addition, New York, Texas, and Florida, which along with California account for more than 50 percent of all noncitizens residing in the United States, would have been allocated one fewer Congressional seat apiece if only citizens were calculated; and

            Whereas, Over the past 45 years, Michigan has lost four seats in the United States House of Representatives. In 2010, the state is expected to lose at least one more congressional seat. To prevent the further unfair waning of state political power, Congress must adopt and present to the states for ratification a proposal to amend the United States Constitution. Such a measure would prevent noncitizens from subverting American democracy and manipulating the manner in which Congress is apportioned by allowing for only the counting of citizens; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we memorialize the United States Congress to adopt and present to the states for ratification an amendment to the United States Constitution to prohibit the counting of illegal immigrants in the tabulations of population for purposes of apportioning members of Congress among the states; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Michigan Congressional delegation.