BAY AREA Loss of funds for voter outreach hits local groups (Shmellygate fallout)

SF Gate/San Francisco Chronicle ^ | Saturday, October 30, 2004 | Vanessa Hua, Chronicle Staff Writer

[Simmy2.5]

Bay Area community groups say they have been forced to scale back voter-outreach plans after federal funds they hoped to receive became entangled in the controversy surrounding Secretary of State Kevin Shelley.

In late August, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's administration froze $17.5 million in federal voter funds until an audit determines whether Shelley properly spent previously distributed money. Shelley, a Democrat from San Francisco, has come under fire after he hired political allies and Democratic Party activists with some of the money.

[Simmy2.5]

About $6 million of the money that went to California was designated for voter education programs through 2006 for communities with historically low voter participation. More than 300 groups statewide applied to the secretary of state for the grants of up to $50,000.

And of course, all of them were non-partisan. /sarcasm

[Drango]

I volunteer to register voters...Why is it we have to pay people to register voters?

[Ruth C]

About $6 million of the money that went to California was designated for voter education programs through 2006 for communities with historically low voter participation
...community organizations....lamented the missed opportunity to mobilize people
Why the h*ll are my fed tax dollars going to get out the vote efforts?.

ACORN, which organizes low- and moderate-income families, [to get out the vote] slashed the number of precincts it will target in Contra Costa County from 50 to about 25 or 30.
More importantly, why is ANY partisan group getting fed funds to get out the vote?

If you don't vote, the repsonsibility is YOURS and I don't want my tax dollars going to get you off your butt.

[Tacis]

Of course, much of the federal money that goes to ACORN is spent on limos to move their officers around town (apparently, any town) quickly and efficiently. They also pay homies pretty well, too. It may be better for society as a whole to have this money stolen and misuded by scum like ACORN that have it used for the purpose intended.

[Drango]

As I was thinking about this thread, I thought of the House. They have simply walked away from their responsibility to balance the budget. How hard is it to say "No we won't fund partisan activities that will be used to defeat us during the next election"? Dolts!

[NormsRevenge]

Ya kissed an e in shmelleygate. :-} lol ;-)