Posted on 09/15/2009 8:28:22 AM PDT by elizabethgrace
September 15, 2009
Washington, D.C. -
U.S. Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL), ranking Republican on the Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, today wrote to committee Chairman Christopher Dodd (D-CT) and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Inspector General, Kenneth Donohue, calling for an immediate and thorough investigation into the activities of the Association for Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN).
Shelby’s call for an investigation follows recent news reports surrounding the arrest of individuals in Florida for falsifying voter applications while employed by ACORN leading up to the 2008 elections, as well as video of employees in multiple ACORN offices offering to falsify tax documents and to aid in obtaining a mortgage for individuals purported to be engaged in prostitution and employing underage illegal immigrants.
Shelby’s announcement also comes on the heels of overwhelming Senate approval of a measure prohibiting taxpayer funding for ACORN under the Treasury, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2010. The measure, which passed by staggering 83-7 margin, was supported by Banking Committee Chairman, Christopher Dodd.
“Last night’s vote served as a resounding rebuke on behalf of American taxpayers regarding the activities of ACORN,” said Shelby. “While this vote is important, it is limited in scope and we must know more. It is imperative that we proceed immediately to investigate what appears to be ACORN’s stunning disregard for the law and abuse of taxpayer funds. Such an investigation would serve as the basis for determining not only whether ACORN is worthy of receiving other federal funds this year, but ever again.”
The recent reports add to a litany of reported incidences over several years within the organization, which has for decades received federal funds, including millions under the jurisdiction of the Senate Banking Committee. ACORN is now eligible for additional taxpayer money under the economic stimulus legislation enacted earlier this year.
The full text of the letters is below.
September 15, 2009
Senator Christopher J. Dodd Chairman U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs 534 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510
Dear Chairman Dodd:
I write to you today to request that you launch an immediate and thorough investigation into the activities of the Association for Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN). Specifically, this committee needs to determine if ACORN is acting legally and ethically in the expenditure of taxpayer dollars and whether the organization should continue to be eligible to receive these funds.
In recent days, numerous news reports have surfaced surrounding: 1) the arrest of individuals in Florida for falsifying voter applications while employed by ACORN, leading up to the 2008 elections; and 2) video of employees in ACORN offices of Baltimore, Maryland, Washington, DC, and Brooklyn, New York, offering to falsify tax documents and to aid in obtaining a mortgage for individuals purporting to be engaged in prostitution and employing underage illegal immigrants.
These scandals add to numerous other reported incidences within the organization over many years including: embezzlement of nearly one million dollars by the brother of the organization’s founder; charges of additional voter registration fraud in other states; and the stripping of federal grants following findings that ACORN used federal money to promote legislation.
ACORN has been receiving federal money for decades including millions under the jurisdiction of the Senate Banking Committee and is eligible for additional money now as a result of the stimulus legislation enacted earlier this year. As such, it is vital that the committee undertake a prompt review of the activities of this organization.
I look forward to working with you to ensure the American taxpayer’s money is being spent wisely and legally.
Sincerely, Richard Shelby
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September 15, 2009
The Honorable Kenneth M. Donohue Inspector General U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General 451 7th Street S.W. Washington, DC 20410
Dear Mr. Inspector General,
I write to you today to request that you launch an immediate and thorough investigation into the activities of the Association for Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN). Specifically, I ask that you investigate whether ACORN is acting legally in the expenditure funding it has received from HUD and whether it is maintaining ethical standards throughout the entire organization to determine whether it should maintain its eligibility for these funds.
In recent days, numerous news reports have surfaced surrounding: 1) the arrest of individuals in Florida for falsifying voter applications while employed by ACORN, leading up to the 2008 elections; and 2) video of employees in ACORN offices of Baltimore, Maryland, Washington, DC, and Brooklyn, New York, offering to falsify tax documents and aid in obtaining a mortgage for individuals purporting to be engaged in prostitution and employing underage illegal immigrants.
These scandals add to numerous other reported issues within the organization over many years including: embezzlement of nearly one million dollars by the brother of the organization’s founder; charges of additional voter registration fraud in other states; and the stripping of federal grants following findings that ACORN used federal money to promote legislation.
ACORN has been receiving federal money for decades including millions from HUD. Furthermore, ACORN is eligible for additional money as a result of the stimulus legislation enacted earlier this year. As such, it is vital that you undertake a prompt review of the activities of this organization.
I look forward to working with you to ensure the American taxpayer’s money is being spent wisely and legally.
Sincerely,
Richard Shelby
I am SO proud and happy I made the decision to leave Chicago/Illinois for Alabama six months ago...........
Go Shelby! Go Beck!
I’m sick of these politicians jumping on the bandwagon after the people have to build the bandwagon. They are all spineless jelly.
I hear you, Hattie, but we need them to act. Otherwise nothing happens. Charlie Gibson of abc actually said, he hasn’t reported on the ACORN stories because he hasn’t heard about them.
Thanks for the heads up :)
If the MSM had vetted 0bama and not covered for him, we would not be in this mess.
Too late; they already changed their name:
In fact, the process has already begun, she noted. Wade Rathke, who founded the organization, announced on his blog that ACORN International has officially changed its name to “Community Organizations International.”
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/ACORN-drops-tarnished-name-and-moves-to-silence-critics-48730537.html
If we know, then he knows too.
Makes me wonder why he and other Congressionals keep referring to ACORN, without acknowledging the multitude of front groups that are tentacles of the ACORN Octopus on steroids, as well the name change to COI Community Organizers International.
That organization is like a killer virus we have all read about that keeps altering itself.
We’ve got two GREAT Senators, Richard Shelby and Jeff Sessions.
Yes, you do. I, on the other hand......Boxer and Feinstein.
Wow, I’m so sorry for your state’s choice. Maybe ya’ll can work on that this next election. Good luck!
Kinda wonder if they think this could lead back to President Obama...in a real BAD way.
Thus they vote in mass to defund ACORN...and sweep it under the rug quickly.
Shelby needs to make sure any investigation of ACORN includes associated and successor organizations.
as much as i’d like to see them caught with their hand in the cookie jar- Sanders is a nut. Burris is voting OBozos vote. Thats not the list we’d like to catch accepting graft.
Sorry, but there has to be a reason for their “no” votes and I’d like to know what it is.
It’s political suicide in today’s current climate to have voted the way that they did.
Glenn Beck is exposing ACORN and perhaps the answer will be found.
There will be no legitimate investigation - WHILE THE CURRENT PARTY IS IN POWER.
But, in pulling funding, their access to the census, etc,
we can perhaps keep the next two elections from being stolen, and THEN perhaps, do a real investigation.
I'd relax on that a little bit. Republicans (some) have been trying to fight ACORN since at least the last election and haven't been able to get any traction at all.
They asked for ACORN to have its funding removed last March and were voted down and a committee (House Oversight and something-Issa's committee) released a report in July about ACORNs criminal activity.
WHERE ARE THE OTHER 98 SENATORS?
Do they do anything other than spend money and go on taxpayer paid vacations???
Texas and now your state are starting to look pretty darn good to me.
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