Another ACORN Victory... But More Work to be Done
As I mentioned last week, in the wake of nearly a dozen more arrests for voter registration fraud in Florida and a series of videos showing ACORN workers counseling a couple in how to evade the law and start up a prostitution ring, the Census Bureau finally decided to sever ties with ACORN. As I’ve been saying for months, the Census Bureau’s partnership program is supposed to promote trust of the census and ACORN’s repeated shady activities and unsavory headlines should have precluded them from this program from the beginning.
It seems that a majority of the House of Representatives are finally seeing the light as well. Last week, by a vote of 345-75, the House passed an amendment to a higher education bill to defund ACORN. I was pleased that the House took this action, but until such language is actually signed into law by President Obama, ACORN continues to be able to access billions of your tax dollars. In fact, the President has the ability to defund ACORN even without Congressional action.
Regrettably, President Obama doesn’t seem to be terribly aware of ACORN’s access to federal funds. This weekend on ABC’s “This Week,” he stated, "Frankly, it's not really something I've followed closely. I didn't even know that ACORN was getting a whole lot of federal money."
Well, it’s well documented that they’ve received $53 million in taxpayer funds since 1993 and they could have access to as much as $10 billion more under bills that Congress and the President have worked on this year. I’ve written the President to ask him to use his authority to suspend and bar ACORN from federal funding once and for all. He can no longer claim that he didn’t know what they were doing with your tax dollars.
Human Events ran a column I wrote on ACORN, and I’ve reprinted it here for your review:
Mr. President, Stop ACORN Funding Now
by Michele Bachmann
09/21/2009
One of the most egregious abuses of your hard-earned money has been federal funding for ACORN. This non-profit organization is no stranger to controversy. But its seemingly endless entanglement with criminal investigations, indictments, and consent decrees for voter registration fraud and related crimes in more than a dozen states across the nation didn't even faze Washington.
Since 1993, ACORN has received $53 million in direct taxpayer-funded assistance. Since January of this year, ACORN has been made eligible for another $8.5 billion through the “stimulus” and the fiscal year 2010 budget. And in May, the House Financial Services Committee considered another bill that would use the taxpayer funds from the Wall Street bailout (TARP) to subsidize a $1.5 billion housing slush fund. So, ACORN could have access to as much as $10 billion more.
And, all the while that Congress and President Obama have been making deposits into ACORN's trust fund, the scandalous headlines continued: "Nevada charges ACORN illegally paid to sign voters" (AP 05/05/09), "ACORN workers charged with forging voter registrations" (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 05/07/09), "Feds give ACORN more money despite indictments" (Examiner 05/23/09), "ACORN Ohio probe underway, illegal voting indictment available" (Capital Research Center 06/05/09), "11 accused of faking voter registration cards in Miami-Dade" (Miami Herald 09/09/09) -- to name just a smattering.
It took the release of a series of undercover videos showing ACORN workers in several states advising a couple on how to evade tax laws and get housing grants for setting up an underage prostitution ring to make Congress remember that it has a fiduciary duty to the taxpayers.
For months, I have fought to cut ACORN off. Accessing tax dollars is a privilege, and ACORN's repeated violations of the law and public trust mean they haven't earned that privilege. I have introduced legislation (the Taxpayer Protection and Anti-Fraud Act), offered amendments, held press conferences and written letters to the IRS, the Census Bureau, the Speaker of the House, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development -- to anyone who could take action to stop this abuse of your money.
The Democrats took no heed of any of this until now. While they countenanced election fraud with a wink and a nod, apparently the outrage of the American people over ACORN aiding and abetting prostitution caught their attention. And, with overwhelming bipartisanship, Democrats finally joined Republicans and passed amendments cutting off ACORN in both the House and Senate.
Yet, as you read this piece, not one dime has stopped flowing to ACORN. We must keep the pressure on both chambers to make sure their recent votes are more than just a publicity stunt to appease the outraged public. Make them deliver! Two votes on two entirely different bills in two different chambers never the 'tween shall meet. To actually end in the promised result -- that is, closing the door on ACORN’s federal funding entirely -- each chamber needs to pass the same language and get it to the President's desk -- language intact -- for his signature into law.
We know Washington can move quickly when it wants to -- witness how the cash infusion for Cash for Clunkers sailed through in a matter of hours.
Until Congress acts with similar unanimity of purpose, it remains to be seen if it really has the nerve, and the desire, to take the necessary and proper actions against this corrupt organization, putting them out of business once and for all.
And rather than wait and hope for Congress to do the right thing, President Obama can and should act now. The President must use his authority to suspend and bar ACORN from federal funding. The evidence against ACORN is ample, and the time for him to make the decision is now. Most Democrats in Congress have seen the writing on the wall. Even the Census Bureau has severed all ties with ACORN for the 2010 census. President Obama, the taxpayers are waiting to see whose side you will choose -- theirs or ACORN's.
It is time for President Obama to step up to his fiduciary duties to you, the taxpayer, and immediately suspend and bar ACORN from any federal programs or funding.
Congresswoman Bachmann serves the 6th district of Minnesota.
First Academy Night is Tonight in Monticello
Tonight, my office will host the first of two Academy Nights for students who may be interested in applying to a United States Service Academy. September 22nd, 7-8pm
September 21st, 7-8pm
Monticello High School
Media Center (Second Floor)
5225 School Blvd
Sauk Rapids-Rice High School
Career Center (E139)
1833 Osauka Road NE
Sauk Rapids,
The service academies are a great opportunity for a quality education at no cost, but they are highly competitive and applicants are required to have a nomination from their Representative or Senator. Students who are interested in applying or learning more about the process are encouraged to attend one of these events or visit the academy nominations page on my website.
The deadline for completed application files this year is October 31, 2009. Tara Westby, my Academy Nomination Coordinator, can also answer your questions. She can be reached in my Waite Park office at 320-253-5931.
Bachmann Office Coming to a Town Near You
My staff regularly holds Mobile Office Hours at locations all across the district. These are opportunities for you to come meet one on one with someone from my office who is trained to be your liaison with federal agencies. Please bring copies of any paperwork that you might have with you when you visit. Particularly, if you are having a problem with a federal benefit or program and have letters or documents that might help my staff get answers for you quickly.
Should you have any questions or concerns, however, you can always stop by one of my district offices between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm to talk to my staff as well.
Woodbury Waite Park
6043 Hudson Road 110 2nd Street South
Suite 330 Suite 232
Woodbury, MN 55125 Waite Park, MN 56387
651-731-5400 320-253-5931
You can find a complete schedule of my Mobile Office Hours on my website.
And, please take a moment to visit my website (www.bachmann.house.gov) and sign up for my regular telephone town halls as well. That technology allows you to speak with me from the comfort of your own home. You’ll get an update on what Congress is doing that might impact you and have the opportunity to ask me a question about what’s on your mind.
Note: Please do not respond to this email, as this is an unattended account. If you wish to unsubscribe from this newsletter, you may do so by clicking the "unsubscribe" link at the bottom of this page. If you wish to contact Congresswoman Michele Bachmann regarding a specific issue, please visit our contact web page at http://bachmann.house.gov/Contact/
LATEST VIDEOS:
9.15.09
Fox Business: Bachmann Discusses President Obama's Relationship with Unions and His Use of Tariffs
9.12.09
Fox News: Bachmann on Geraldo to Talk Health Care
LATEST NEWS:
9.25.09
Bachmann to Speak at Student Town Hall with Dr. Ron Paul
9.21.09
Bachmann Brings 'Academy Nights' to Local High Schools
9.17.09
Bachmann Blog: Government to Take Over all Student Loans
9.17.09
Bachmann Reacts to House Vote to Defund ACORN
9.16.09
Bachmann Cautions Against Expanding Community Reinvestment Act
9.16.09
Bachmann Blog: Doctors Wary of Health Care Overhaul
9.15.09
Bachmann Urges HUD to Bar ACORN from Taxpayer Funding
9.15.09
Bachmann Blog: The Dollar is in Danger