Census Nominee's Hearing Moved Yet Again

Maybe the third time's a charm.

Senators have once again postponed the confirmation hearing for Robert Groves, President Obama's choice to serve as Census Bureau director. The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee had originally scheduled the hearing for May 5, then moved it to tomorrow. But this morning the committee announced the hearing has been postponed again, until Friday morning, all thanks to scheduling conflicts.

It appears that Cass R. Sunstein and the Department of Homeland Security's budget have bumped the Census nominee, amid a packed week for the committee. Tomorrow it considers Sunstein's nomination to serve as administrator for the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs and will also review DHS's proposed FY 2010 budget. Wednesday it considers David Heyman's nomination to serve as DHS assistant secretary and two judicial nominations for the D.C. Superior Court.

Then Friday -- or whenever it happens -- Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) will chair Groves' confirmation hearing. Delaware's senior senator chairs the panel's subcommittee that oversees the Census and today he's holding a field hearing in Philadelphia about how Census undercounts impact urban America.