The top House Republican overseeing the 2010 census is enlisting his GOP colleagues in an effort to maximize participation in the decennial count by constituents who may be reluctant to disclose information to government officials.

The effort of Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C. -- and his message that completing a census form is a "patriotic duty" -- aims in part to fight an undercurrent of suspicions about the government's collection of personal data that has been churned by some conservative media personalities as well as Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn.

The ranking member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Census Subcommittee and his staff are kicking off an education blitz with a Friday workshop to coach GOP chiefs of staff and communications directors on the value of the census and to help dispel the perception that it invades the privacy of Americans.

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