Amendment 2355: Halt ACORN Funding Passes Senate

SUMMARY "Mr. President, the people of Nebraska sent me to Washington to protect them from waste and fraud and abuse, and they asked me to change the status quo. And I take that responsibility very seriously. That is why my amendment would prohibit one more penny, one more penny of taxpayer money from going to ACORN in the Transportation and Housing Appropriations bill…Until a full investigation is launched into ACORN, no taxpayer money should be used to fund its activities. A vote in favor of my amendment is a vote in favor of the taxpayer and a vote against the status quo." Senator Johanns (Senate floor right before the 9/14 vote)

Senate Passes Amendment To Halt ACORN Funding

Prior to the 2008 Presidential election, most people had never heard of the non-profit activist group, ACORN. President Obama is in part responsible for this introduction since Obama’s political resume is riddled with references to his work as a community organizer in association with ACORN and other such organizations. Almost from the moment their name was dropped, controversy has surrounded this group. Despite an enabling leftstream press who’ve repeatedly ignored these important news stories, without regard to the seriousness of each new criminal revelation, truth is at last finding its way to the American People. Americans, sick at watching their hard-earned money shoveled into the gaping maws of criminal organizations masquerading as charities and community organizations, are now having to get "real" news from young novice journalists unafraid to seek truth. A case in point:  the recent ACORN videos, produced by James O’Keefe and Hannah Giles.  These videos reveal numerous ACORN employees at multiple ACORN locations advising them how best to circumvent the system to start a brothel exploiting underaged Latina girls. Americans are becoming increasingly furious as they wait futilely for the state-run media and Congress to do their jobs, to actively investigate wrongdoings and report their findings, particularly while these activist organizations are continuing to be funded with taxpayer dollars and effect the outcome of elections.

It’s hard to get an accurate accounting of taxpayer money already received by ACORN. According to a federal records study released October of 2008, ACORN has received awards in excess of $53 million dollars. This amount does not include additional millions received by ACORN through federal block grant funds that were funnelled down from state and local agencies. After allegations of reported wrongdoing in connection with the 2008 election, a $17.2 million federal grant was given to ACORN in December ‘08. And it gets better. When the Democrats came to power in ‘09 and introduced the trillion dollar spending bill, there was $4.19 billion allocated for "neighborhood stabilization activities," allowing groups like ACORN to be eligible for a portion of the funds. It was then that Sen. David Vitter, R-LA, stated in an interview with FOX News that this money might be considered a "payoff" for groups that actively supported Democratic candidates in the last election.

Just this past Friday, the Census Bureau announced that it would not be using the services of ACORN in the 2010 census. This was an important decision because of the obvious Democratic position ACORN has taken, and the census results could have favorable outcome to certain polical parties in the restructuring of voting districts if the numbers become vulnerable to manipulation. 

Recently, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform oulined the numerous criminal activities being alleged against the ACORN organization and has published an 88-page report entitled: "Is ACORN Intentionally Structured as a Criminal Enterprise?" On Monday, September, 14th, 2009, Senator Mike Johanns’ introduced Amendment #2355 to H.R. 3288, and the amendment passed in the Senate with a vote of 83-7. This is good news, but we’re not there yet. The amendment must also be passed in the House. While ACORN will no longer receive funds in the current transportation and housing appropriations bill, it remains eligible to receive millions from other accounts such as mortgage counseling, Community Development Block Grants, and the Neighborhood Stabilization Program.

Seven Senators Voted No to Halt ACORN Funding

The seven Senators that voted against the amendment to halt the funding for ACORN are:

 

	Senator Roland Burris – (Democrat – IL)  (Phone: 202-224-2854)
	Senator Dick Durbin – (Democrat – IL) (Phone: 202-224-2152)
	Senator Robert P. Casey, Jr. – (Democrat – PA)  (Phone: 202-224-6324)
	Senator Kirsten Gillibrand – (Democrat – NY) (Phone: (222-224-4451) * Hillary Clinton’s Replacement
	Senator Patrick Leahy – (Democrat – VT) (Phone: 202-224-4242)
	Senator Bernie Sanders – (Democratic Socialist – VT) (Phone: 202-224-5141)
	Senator Sheldon Whitehouse – (Democrat – RI) (Phone: 202-224-2921)

83 Senators Vote Yes to Halt ACORN Funding

YEAs —83
Akaka (D-HI) Alexander (R-TN) Barrasso (R-WY) Baucus (D-MT) Bayh (D-IN) Begich (D-AK) Bennet (D-CO) Bennett (R-UT) Bingaman (D-NM) Bond (R-MO) Boxer (D-CA) Brown (D-OH) Brownback (R-KS) Bunning (R-KY) Cantwell (D-WA) Cardin (D-MD) Carper (D-DE) Chambliss (R-GA) Cochran (R-MS) Collins (R-ME) Conrad (D-ND) Corker (R-TN) Cornyn (R-TX) Crapo (R-ID) DeMint (R-SC) Dodd (D-CT) Dorgan (D-ND) Ensign (R-NV)	Enzi (R-WY) Feingold (D-WI) Feinstein (D-CA) Franken (D-MN) Grassley (R-IA) Hagan (D-NC) Harkin (D-IA) Hatch (R-UT) Inhofe (R-OK) Inouye (D-HI) Isakson (R-GA) Johanns (R-NE) Johnson (D-SD) Kaufman (D-DE) Kerry (D-MA) Klobuchar (D-MN) Kohl (D-WI) Kyl (R-AZ) Landrieu (D-LA) Lautenberg (D-NJ) LeMieux (R-FL) Levin (D-MI) Lieberman (ID-CT) Lincoln (D-AR) Lugar (R-IN) McCaskill (D-MO) McConnell (R-KY) Menendez (D-NJ)	Merkley (D-OR) Murkowski (R-AK) Murray (D-WA) Nelson (D-FL) Nelson (D-NE) Pryor (D-AR) Reed (D-RI) Reid (D-NV) Risch (R-ID) Roberts (R-KS) Rockefeller (D-WV) Schumer (D-NY) Sessions (R-AL) Shaheen (D-NH) Shelby (R-AL) Snowe (R-ME) Specter (D-PA) Stabenow (D-MI) Tester (D-MT) Thune (R-SD) Udall (D-CO) Udall (D-NM) Voinovich (R-OH) Warner (D-VA) Webb (D-VA) Wicker (R-MS) Wyden (D-OR)

 

* Motion to Table Vitter Amendment No. 107 & 705 Voting Results

It is important that each victory be celebrated. It is also important to remember those who courageously fight the fight when the political atmosphere is less friendly. Representative David Vitter (R-LA) tried to introduce similar legislation to the Senate back in February and again in March of ‘09. His efforts were unanimously tabled. In spite ongoing investigation of questionable practices with regards to ACORN, the majority chose to continue their funding.  The two previous bills were Amendment 107 (vote results) and Amendment 705 (voting results).