Taxpayers foot bill for
$2.5 million Super Bowl ad

We understand the federal government has, because of the U.S. Constitution, a responsibility to take a national census every 10 years to ensure fair representation across the land. What we do not understand is spending $2.5 million during the Super Bowl to remind Americans to take part in the census.

The Census Bureau is paying $2.5 million to CBS for a 30-second commercial on Sunday featuring noted environmentalist and actor Ed Begley Jr. telling Americans to “stand up and be counted,” Fox News reported.

That is just the tip of dollar sign. The bureau is spending $133 million between January and May to make individuals aware of, and to take part in, the 2010 census.

We understand the census is important and that everyone should take part, but we are hard-pressed to believe that taxpayers must spend in excess of $130 million to remind people about it. As a nation, we are, after all, looking at an estimated $20 trillion in red ink over the next decade.

When will the government stop wasting taxpayers’ money? We’re not holding our breath.

Comments (0)