U.S. lawmakers who are unwilling to investigate ACORN may have contracted a form of “denial flu” that interferes with their oversight responsibilities, Heather Heidelbaugh, a Pittsburgh, Pa. attorney said during a press conference on Capitol Hill Thursday.
After Heidelbaugh testified before the House Judiciary Committee in March about ACORN, Chairman John Conyers (D-Mich.), said the allegations of voter fraud merited a possible investigation. But he reversed his position eariler this month just as new as indictments against ACORN were handed down in Nevada and later in Pennsylvania.
Heidelbaugh, who is vice-president of the Republican National Lawyers Association, sued ACORN last year over election law violations. She appeared alongside Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.), and Anita MonCrief, a former ACORN employee, to raise questions about the organization’s on-going operations and the financial support it receives from U.S. taxpayer dollars during the press conference.
The Examiner has learned that the Association of Community Organizers for Reform Now (ACORN), as it is formally known, has received about $54 million in federal funds, since 1994 could be eligible for billions of more funds before the end of the year. Heidelbaugh outlined several questions lawmakers should answer before they vote in favor of continued funding for ACORN.
“Is there a central repository of data regarding the amounts going to ACORN?
“If not, why not?”
“Has the U.S. government received any documents from ACORN that would prove what it did with those funds?”
“Does any congressional agency perform periodic audits of ACORN use of taxpayer funds to determine whether it provides the services it said it did?”
“Did the U.S. government either ask for or obtain audited financial services from ACORN or any of its affiliates?”
“If not, why not?”
“Does the U.S government know if ACORN and its 175 affiliates are compliant with the tax obligations?
“What mechanisms are in place to prevent U.S. tax dollars going to ACORN in the next budget from going to Acorn International? Are U.S. tax dollars going overseas without oversight?”
