Rep. Calvert Votes To Defund ACORN

Press Release

Today Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA) voted to cut off funding for ACORN, a controversial community organization group.

"American taxpayer dollars should not go to a group that has been caught on tape instructing others on how to circumvent federal laws," said Rep. Calvert. "The House has now voted to cut funding as well as the Senate. The next step must be an investigation into ACORN and prosecute those individuals responsible if the evidence shows laws have been broken."

On September 15, 2009, Rep. Calvert joined other House Republicans in sending a letter to President Obama asking him to use his authority to end all funding to and break all government ties with ACORN.

In part the letter states: "It is evident that ACORN is incapable of using federal funds in a manner that is consistent with the law. Immediate action is necessary to ensure that no additional tax dollars are directed to ACORN. Simply put, ACORN should not receive another penny of American taxpayers' money."

Rep. Calvert is also a cosponsor of the Taxpayer Protection and Anti-Fraud Act of 2009 which would prohibit the distribution of any Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) financial assistance to: (1) any organization that has been indicted for a violation under federal or state law relating to an election for federal or state office; or (2) any organization that employs, in a permanent or temporary capacity, any individual indicted for such a violation, has under contract or retains such an individual, or has such an individual acting on the organization's behalf or with its express or apparent authority.

A recently released report, by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, presents evidence that ACORN has evaded taxes, obstructed justice, engaged in racketeering, and created a conspiracy to defraud the United States. The report can be found at http://republicans.oversight.house.gov

Source