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Boehner: The 'Defund ACORN Act' will be introduced today
By: Byron York
Chief Political Correspondent
09/15/09 12:11 PM EDT
House Republican leader has just sent a letter to his fellow lawmakers asking them to become co-sponsors of the "Defund ACORN Act," which Republicans plan to introduce in the House today. In the letter, Boehner, citing undercover video reports of ACORN workers encouraging illegal activity, says, "It is evident that ACORN is incapable of using federal funds in a manner that is consistent with the law." Boehner says "immediate action" should be taken to cut off federal funds to the organization. "Simply put, ACORN should not receive another penny of American taxpayers’ money," the letter says.
Here is the entire text of Boehner's "Dear Colleague" letter:
In the wake of new reports of potentially criminal activity involving associates of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN), it is time for Congress to take action and terminate all federal funding to ACORN and its affiliates. That is why I will introduce the Defund ACORN Act and encourage you to become a cosponsor.
It is evident that ACORN is incapable of using federal funds in a manner that is consistent with the law. Immediate action is necessary to ensure that no additional tax dollars are directed to ACORN. Simply put, ACORN should not receive another penny of American taxpayers’ money.
Congressional pressure, coupled with the impact of recent media reports, prompted the U.S. Census Bureau on September 11 to end its partnership with ACORN. I support this decision by the Census Bureau, and believe it is vital that all other federal agencies with ties to ACORN follow the Census Bureau’s example by severing all ties to ACORN and its affiliates, whether those ties consist of partnerships or the awarding of federal funds, including federal funds distributed through state and local governments from federal block grants. But rather than wait for the other agencies to act, Congress must take control of this situation and change federal law now.
This is a matter of common sense and respect for taxpayer dollars. Last year, millions of Americans were outraged to learn their tax dollars were being used to subsidize an organization linked to multiple instances of voter registration fraud and other illicit activity. An analysis of federal data by my staff determined that ACORN has received more than $53 million in direct funding from the federal government since 1994, and has likely received substantially more indirectly through states and localities that receive federal block grants.
We can stop this waste of taxpayer dollars by passing the Defund ACORN Act. If you would like to become a cosponsor of this legislation or need additional information, please have your staff contact [my office].
UPDATE: Boehner writes president; says ACORN funding must be "terminated immediately"
Here is the text of Boehner's letter, sent today to President Obama:
Dear Mr. President:
We write to you today in the wake of new reports of potentially criminal activity involving associates of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) to respectfully request that you use your authority to publicly disclose and terminate all federal funding to ACORN and its affiliates. It is evident that ACORN is incapable of using federal funds in a manner that is consistent with the law. Immediate action is necessary to ensure that no additional tax dollars are directed to ACORN. Simply put, ACORN should not receive another penny of American taxpayers’ money.
Congressional pressure, coupled with the impact of recent media reports, prompted the U.S. Census Bureau on September 11 to end its partnership with ACORN. We support this decision by the Census Bureau, and believe it is vital that all other federal agencies with ties to ACORN follow the Census Bureau’s example by severing all ties to ACORN and its affiliates, whether those ties consist of partnerships or the awarding of federal funds, including federal funds distributed through state and local governments from federal block grants.
This is a matter of common sense and respect for taxpayer dollars. Last year, millions of Americans were outraged to learn their tax dollars were being used to subsidize an organization linked to multiple instances of voter registration fraud and other illicit activity. An analysis of federal data by the Office of the Republican Leader determined that ACORN has received more than $53 million in direct funding from the federal government since 1994, and has likely received substantially more indirectly through states and localities that receive federal block grants.
The Census Bureau has made the commendable decision to sever ties with ACORN, and it is now critical that all remaining federal entities with ties to ACORN do the same. We ask that you use your authority to ensure that all federal funding of ACORN is publicly disclosed and terminated immediately. To facilitate this effort, the Republican staff of the Oversight Committee has compiled a complete list of the corporations that form the ACORN Council, and we would be pleased to share it with you and members of your administration.
We thank you for your attention to this request.
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