Obama's census director nominee clears Senate panel vote

President Obama's nominee to be the next census director cleared the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee by voice vote this morning. Confirmation of Robert Groves is all but assured because Groves has ruled out using statistical sampling in the 2010 count that will be the basis of redrawing congressional district boundaries.

Some Democrats have pushed for statistical sampling to correct a long-term undercount of minorities, who tend to vote for Democratic candidates. Although the schedule has not been set, aides said a confirmation vote could occur this week or soon after the Senate returns from the Memorial Day recess.