Sessions Calls On President Obama, Congress To Defund ACORN

Press Release

Sessions Calls On President Obama, Congress To Defund ACORN

U.S. Congressman Pete Sessions (TX-32) today called for President Obama and Congress to defund the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN), a liberal activist organization accused of voter fraud, tax evasion, corruption, and other criminal activity.

Today, Sessions joined other elected Republican Leadership members in sending a letter to President Obama, requesting that he publicly disclose and terminate all federal funding to ACORN and its affiliates. Noting that “ACORN is incapable of using federal funds in a manner that is consistent with the law,” Sessions and his colleagues called for immediate action as a matter of common sense and respect for taxpayer dollars.

“As a liberal interest group disguised as an anti-poverty organization, ACORN has received millions of tax dollars for housing programs thanks to Congressional Democrats' unwavering commitment to padding the pockets of left-wing special interest groups,” stated Sessions. “Already proven to be rife with corruption, ACORN faces more serious charges of criminal activity, taking advocacy for their liberal social agenda beyond the bounds of the law.”

To date, nearly 70 ACORN employees have been convicted in 12 states of voter registration fraud. According to a report released by the Ranking Member of the House Government Reform Committee, ACORN has engaged in widespread criminal activity, including tax evasion, obstruction of justice, racketeering, and conspiracy to defraud the United States. Despite mounting evidence of criminal activity, ACORN could receive up to $8.5 billion under the “stimulus” plan championed by President Obama. Since 1994, ACORN has received more that $53 million in taxpayer funds.

Sessions today also cosponsored the “Defund ACORN Act,” legislation that Republican Leader John Boehner will introduce for Congress to statutorily block federal money to ACORN and its affiliates. The bill would immediately terminate all federal ties to ACORN, including work partnerships and federal funding for grants distributed through state and local governments.

Following the release of videos showing ACORN workers providing advice on tax evasion and other criminal activity, the U.S. Census Bureau announced on Friday that it had terminated its data collection partnership with ACORN. On Monday, the Senate voted 83-7 to prohibit Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grants for ACORN.

In May and in July, Sessions offered amendments to require full disclosure and accountability of tax dollars to ACORN, requiring repayment and banning future federal money if ACORN misused federal funding. House Democrats voted down both amendments on a party-line vote in the Rules Committee.

“It's time for Congressional Democrats to stop shielding their friends at ACORN from accountability,” Sessions stated. “The American people are rightly outraged at ACORN's tax dollar abuse, and I call on Congressional Democrats to stop subsidizing criminal behavior, instead placing good public policy over political favors to the organizations that helped elect them.”

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