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Will Congress' defunding of ACORN expire Saturday?

By: Byron York
Chief Political Correspondent
10/27/09 1:09 PM EDT

When both houses of Congress voted to defund ACORN several weeks ago, what they actually did was bar lawmakers and federal agencies from giving any money to the community organizing group for the duration of the temporary budget agreement, or continuing resolution, that was in effect at the time. Continuing resolutions are used to extend federal spending, and keep the government running, when Congress can't agree on appropriations bills for the fiscal year. When the congressional defunding of ACORN went into effect on October 1, there was a continuing resolution in place that would last until October 31 -- this Saturday. The ACORN ban was in that resolution, so it will also expire on Saturday.

There are still no appropriations bills in place, so this week Congress will have to pass another continuing resolution to keep the federal government going. The word on the Hill is that the new resolution will probably be written to last until sometime in December.

The question is: will the ACORN defunding language be in the new resolution? The answer appears to be yes, at least for now. "We will do a CR this week that will basically extend the expiration date of the old CR, so the old language will stay," says one House Republican aide. The aide is "99.9 percent sure" that the ACORN prohibition will be in the new resolution; if Democrats tried to remove it, the aide says, "we would have a big fight this week."

Provided the ACORN ban stays for now, the real issue will be what happens when the new continuing resolution expires and actual appropriations bills are passed in December. Will there be a provision that says no funds from fiscal year 2010 will go to ACORN? Republicans are cautiously confident. "Democrats have a minority in their caucus that believes we should not have cut off ACORN," the aide says. "But I can't believe that there's a majority in their caucus that wants to fund ACORN."

Or at least wants to fight about it. Nevertheless, Republicans say they will be watching the new appropriations bills very closely. The appropriations process is sure to be chaotic, as lawmakers rush to finish spending bills before Christmas and New Year's. All it would take for ACORN funding to resume is the absence of any specific defunding language. If that language is not there, then federal agencies would again have the discretion of sending taxpayer dollars to ACORN. What happens in December could be the key to ACORN's future.

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Reader Comments

All comments on this page are subject to our Terms of Use and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Examiner or its staff. Comment box is limited to 250 words.

Donna

Oct 27, 2009

Acorn needs to be SHUT DOWN altogether! They should NEVER get another dime of money from the govt. SHUT THEM DOWN!!!!!

Yisroel

Oct 27, 2009

That takes care of one aspect of ACORN only.
Firstly, ACORN people will re-organize and morph into a different entity, which we must watch like hawks. Secondly, their people will still "volunteer" for Obamaite Dems in '10 to go door to door. We need to a) call them out and, b) match them in personnel and efficiency.

Mad Monica

Oct 27, 2009

They're going to wait it out until the people have forgotten about the issue, then restore the funding. Obama will NEVER pay back those who won the election for him without paying ACORN.

An Angry American

Oct 27, 2009

No, no, no! We can't let this organization have anymore of our tax dollars! Please and let the WH know that we are paying attention...we watch Glenn Beck!

Bob Miller

Oct 27, 2009

Well..

This is going to be a SHELL GAME. The Demoncrats will still fund this corrupt, sleezy organization because of Obama.

By January it will the same organization, same people.. just a DIFFERENT NAME.

If anyone thinks ACORN IS DEAD..

You might want to vote for Mickey Mouse on the next election.. He will be put up by the Demoncrats... because he is Black, and well know.

Oh, I forgot we know too much about good ole Mickey..

He has not hid in the closet like our current POTUS.

CDEvansJr

Oct 27, 2009

Obamal has no problem with throwing acorn or anyonelse under the bus if it makes him look good.

WatchDog

Oct 27, 2009

We aren't going to forget. I love how Glenn Beck is keeping pressure on the administration and they are unfortunately more worried about him than they are nukes from Iran or the two different wars that we are waging. He is determined to get rid of this corruption that our law makers think that they can get away with. With the new media the tables have turned and they are more accountable than ever to those that pay their bills - us the taxpayers. We aren't going to take the corruption any more, wake up Washington. We are watching and we are paying attention. If you pass this health care scam, you are going to find yourself out of a job and the benefits for life will also be tossed out the door.

Write and Call Your Representatives

Oct 27, 2009

Please EVERYONE, it is imperative that each of you write and call your Congress and Senate representatives and voice your outrage at Acorn, and make it known that you do NOT authorize one more penny going to this organization.

Protesting here does no good, please take approiate action.

Commonsense

Oct 27, 2009

They'd better not give any more money to ACORN.

mvale

Oct 27, 2009

Do these congress people realize how hard the average American person works to pay their taxes? We have the right to expect that they use this money with care and that does not include Acorn. How shameful.

Dixie

Oct 27, 2009

I don't care if the organization continues to operate. I just don't want my tax dollars funding their operations.

I also think the IRS needs to get involved in this story; clearly, ACORN has violated regulations about non-profits participating in political campaigns. Withdraw their non-profit status and block all federal funding.

MomBot

Oct 27, 2009

GOOD - GIVE THEM the money, and then we can Sieze it for BACK TAXES!!

Sure seems like an organization that OWES money should get out of the handout line - How's the Treasury Dept. doing on collecting those taxes, Mr. Geithner? Will we get the same stonewalling on transparency that you've given SIGTARP and Congressional Oversight panels?

Congress needs to hold an "Ollie North" style hearing to ask Tim Geithner exactly What he knows, When he knew it, and Why he won't tell anyone what the Treasury is doing.

phlogiston

Oct 27, 2009

Come on, get real. The function of ACORN is political, to recruit voters for Democrat Party candidates. That's what "community organizing" is all about. People on the periphery, marginalized by lack of a modicum of intelligence and other characteristics necessary to function as a productive member of society are recrutied to threaten disruption of processes that sustain society unless they receive their mite. The candidates promise to work to secure larger transfers for the indolent indigent. Why wouldn't an organization working to secure retention of your party in power be allocated funds with which to operate?

opearson

Oct 27, 2009

ACORN is done and our fearless government officals need to make sure that no funding gets to them in any way shape or form.

Oct 27, 2009

If the American people cease FOR ONE MOMENT to be vigilant,ACORN will be funded by this corrupt administration. If spite of his lying denials, Obamanation and ACORN are joined at the hip. He won't intervene directly, but he'll have his thugs derail any investigation, and try to slip in funding under cover of darkness.

RAJ

Oct 27, 2009

I am glad that someone is following this. I don't trust Congress or the Obama administration as they will try to sneak and fund ACORN somehow.

craigamiller

Oct 28, 2009

I AM SURE THAT A DEMOC-RAT LIKE BARNEY FRANK WILL SLIP IN A FUNDING PROVISION FOR ACORN AT THE PRESIDENT'S REQUEST OF COURSE THE PRESIDENT'S INVOLVEMENT WILL NEVER BECOME KNOWN BUT THEY WILL BE REFUNDED, THE PRESIDENT NEEDS HIS CITIZEN ARMY FOR THE 2010 ELECTIONS.

Oct 28, 2009

What is wrong with the governments and parliaments of this world? They sure don't seem to be listening to the people

livingthetruth

Oct 28, 2009

What is interesting, when you think about it, is congress doesn't seem to have a problem with an organization that is full of criminals, tax cheats, liars and bullys (ACORN). Becuase congress is full of criminals, tax cheats, liars and bullys.
Do we really want them at our health and 13 trillion in tax money?
http://livingfortruth.wordpress.com/2009/10/24/questions-need-to-be-answered-in-health-care-debate/

van

Oct 28, 2009

Now that ACORN isn't in the news it will back to liberal business as usual.

Oct 29, 2009

Sir; My question is simple. Why isn't FOX calling for investigations of KBR, Halliburton and Blackwater(XE); Who have Billion$ in tax-payer funded contracts. Each of these agencies have frauded, committed murders, and still they get TAX-FUNDED CONTRACTS. Yet, FOX doesn't call for the BIG DOGS to be defunded. You tell me, where is the balance.. Thanks, I'm waiting for a comment. A former FOX jumkie.

boxedquad

Nov 2, 2009

With so many comments against ACORN, why is no one in DC listening, make defunding of all such groups, regardless of name.
200 years without govenment funding did not stop this country, but with ACORN TYPE funding it has brought this country to its knees.

Elijah

Nov 7, 2009

The Tricky Dicks in Congress will get around this by not specifically mentioning all the ACORN affiliates. I.E. did anyone notice the number of times the pres of SEIU visited Obama at the White House? Unfortunately most Unions do not represent their constitutents ideology, just their pocketbooks. Just as AARP doesnt represent the majority of SEniors, but yesterday Obama stated "now that AARP and the AMA have joined with our team to endorse the Healthcare bill". Give me a break!

Elijah

Nov 7, 2009

boxquad, I think its called "lobby, lobby everywhere and no one who represents us". All of working and middle income orgs united under one umbrella would seem to have a much better ability to speak and be heard! The Mad Hatter is in charge and his Tea party has control. Blind as bats all.

eithne 1

Nov 9, 2009

The republicans better shut down Acorn or they will be in as much political trouble as the dems. No more being silent. They had better ACT.

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Will Congress' defunding of ACORN expire Saturday?

By: Byron York
Chief Political Correspondent
10/27/09 1:09 PM EDT