ATTENTION--Fresh off the Drudge Report--Senate Drops funding for ACORN

[lauralas]

Here is the link.

http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSTRE58D6CW20090914

U.S. Senate denies funds for poverty group
Mon Sep 14, 2009 7:45pm EDT

By Andy Sullivan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A poverty-rights group that has drawn the ire of conservatives suffered another setback in Washington on Monday when the U.S. Senate voted overwhelmingly to deny it access to federal housing funds.

The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, which helps poor people fight foreclosures and fix tax problems, has received more than $53 million in U.S. funds since 1994, but conservatives' charges of widespread fraud have begun to impact its reputation in the capital.

Last week, the U.S. Census Bureau told the group it did not want its help boosting participation in next year's census.

The Senate measure, which passed 83 to 7 in the Democratic-led chamber, was included in a must-pass spending bill that funds housing and transportation programs for the fiscal year that starts October 1.

"This is an opportunity for the United States Senate to stand up and say 'Enough is enough' just as the Census Bureau did," said Republican Senator Mike Johanns, the measure's sponsor.

The bill includes $165 million for housing-counseling programs and $4 billion to help poor communities weather the worst recession since the 1930s.

ACORN said the Senate's action was disappointing but would have little impact on its overall operations.

"The only real victims of today's vote are the families who have benefited from ACORN's important work," ACORN chief Bertha Lewis said in a statement posted on the group's website.

The House of Representatives passed a similar spending bill without restrictions on ACORN. The House and Senate must resolved differences before a final measure can be sent to Obama to sign into law.

Republicans say ACORN engaged in widespread fraud during the 2008 presidential campaign when it launched a massive voter-registration drive in minority communities, which typically support Democrats and ended up voting overwhelmingly for President Barack Obama.

ACORN says less than 2 percent of its 1.3 million voter applications were fraudulent, stemming from canvassers who sought to boost the number of forms they turned in. Independent analysts say any actual impact on the election was negligible.

The group has also suffered an embezzlement scandal involving the founder's brother.

ACORN more recently has been embarrassed by conservative activists who secretly taped employees in several cities giving tax advice to a couple posing as a pimp and prostitute.

The group has fired several of those taped while denouncing the actions as a smear campaign.

[okpatriot]

ACORN said the Senate's action was disappointing but would have little impact on its overall operations.

The government just needs to put them out of business, since they have been involved in illegal activities since their inception!!!

[okpatriot]

They should be put out of business, permanantly and they should all be in jail!!!!

[Kathryn Ball]

Good, this means that they are hearing the voices of the people who haven't bought into Obama's
"HOPEY-CHANGEY" load of manure.
Now they really need to be watched, they will probably 'disband' and reappear with a new name and a shiney new image. Groups like this are very adept at reassembling to continue their 'MISSION'.
We need to keep the pressure on our reps and senators. They know that we are not only awake but alert and will hold them ALL accountable in 2010 & 2012.
NO MORE COMPLACENCY- NO MORE "SILENT MAJORITY"--NO MORE "PASSIVE- HAPLESS- SHEEPLE!"

[Elizabeth Parella]

This is a beginning; however, it may be slightly impotent and may require a good dose of Viagra. ACORN has many "shell organizations" under its umbrella and is firmly in bed with the SEIU. Under the so-called stimulus package, ACORN was slated to get $8.5 BILLION...we must ensure they get $0. These so-called grants can be very well-hidden by the legislators and we must be on guard.

The ACORN ladies portrayed in the videos seen are but one small group of folks gaming the system. People like this have gamed the system for years, receiving government money under bogus claims of needing support. (At first I felt sorry for these ladies...but then I realized that they had been doing this kind of thing in so many other instances, as eggregious as these videos portrayed, and on a smaller scale, for years! Now my pity has dissipated...) The whole organization stinks from the top, and we must push to recoup whatever federal dollars they have received which have been unspent...AND STATE funding as well. New York State, for example, has pledged an additional number of millions to ACORN. New York State cannot afford it...nor can the federal government...and the American people must rise up and shout: ENOUGH. NO MORE.

Since "The One" is so embedded in ACORN, being the premier community organizer of community organizers himself, he has no personal interest in investigating this group and its myriad subsidiaries...it will be way too embarrassing for him. Holder, who serves at the president's pleasure, will likely do nothing or will take so long to conclude any investigation that both Holder and Obama will hope this fades like an ugly memory in the minds of the American people. It will NOT fade...it will NOT disappear, because we will not let it!

This is but a start....let's keep up the great work we've all done, each in our own way, to ensure it continues to bring down the corrupt government we find ourselves living under. And I include the REPUBLICANS in this group as well....if the pork flows their way and they can get re-elected, most of these so-called representatives of the people just want one thing: THEIR JOBS, Democrat and Republican alike. We must ensure that they do NOT get re-elected if they're paid off to remain silent and just "go along to get along."

I love you all....all of you who have taken time out of your own busy lives to make a difference, and we ARE making a difference! We may be marginalized, called names, dismissed, but WE EXIST and we're getting stronger and stronger EVERY DAY as we learn more and more about what the heck is going on in our country!!! We've found a voice, and we will NOT suffer laryngitis!

[Linda Maddox]

Thank you, to the two young people who had the guts to stand up to this huge corrupt organization. A organizaiton that our own President was a lawyer for! Does it neaver end in Washington?

[Katy]

HALLELEUJAH!!!IT IS ABOUT TIME! I JUST WISH WE COULD FORCE THEM TO GIVE BACK ALL THE MONEY TOO!

[FRANKLIN SCHNEIDER]

well it's a start. But Holder will stop all investigation. mark my words. Just like the black Panthers. Our president is to close to all them.