Saturday, September 27, 2008 12:16:45 PM · by SE Mom · 9 replies · 177+ views
Office of Rep. John Boehner ^ | 27 September 2008
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Posted on 09/27/2008 12:10:21 PM PDT by mathprof
House GOP Fights to Remove ACORN Slush Fund from Economic Rescue Bill; Poison-Pill Proposal Would Ask Taxpayers to Bankroll Group Accused of Voter Fraud Nationwide
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Washington, Sep 27 - House Republicans have made clear that they will fight for an economic rescue package that protects the interests of families, seniors, small businesses, and all taxpayers. And as discussions continue in order to forge an agreement that reflects these principles, the American people are taking note of a left-wing giveaway Democrats are pushing to force taxpayers to bankroll a slush fund for a discredited ally of the Democratic Party. At issue is the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now – better known as ACORN – an organization fraught with controversy for, among other scandals, its fraudulent voter registration activities on behalf of Democratic candidates. Here are just some examples of ACORN’s most recent scandals and unlawful activities:
- “ACORN is a long-time advocacy group with whom Obama was once associated. Recently, though, ACORN workers in two states have pleaded guilty to election fraud, an unlikely recipient of federal largess.” (Fox News Report, 9/26/08)
- “Seven ACORN workers were charged with ‘committing the biggest voter-registration fraud in [Washington] state history.’’ (The Seattle Times, 7/26/07)
- ACORN workers submitted “just over 1,800 new voter registration forms, but there was a problem. The names were made up – all but six of the 1,800 submissions were fakes… The ACORN workers told state investigators that they went to the Seattle public library, sat at a table and filled out the voter registration forms. They made up names, addresses, and Social Security numbers and in some cases plucked names from the phone book. One worker said it was a lot of hard work making up all those names and another said he would sit at home, smoke marijuana and fill out the forms.” (Fox News Channel, 5/02/08)
- “Late last year, a handful of Acorn canvassers in Washington state admitted that they had falsified voter registrations by illegally filling out hundreds of forms with names such as Dennis Hastert, Leon Spinks and Fruito Boy Crispila.” (Wall Street Journal, 7/31/08)
- “Eight workers for a get-out-the-vote effort in St. Louis city and county have pleaded guilty to federal election fraud for submitting false registration cards for the 2006 election, authorities said today. The workers were employed by the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN), gathering voter registrations.” (Associated Press, 4/02/08)
- “Acorn has had a number of missteps. This month its founder, Wade Rathke, resigned after news emerged that his brother Dale had embezzled nearly $1 million from Acorn and affiliated groups eight years ago -- information the group kept from law-enforcement authorities and most members. Dale Rathke left the organization only last month.” (Wall Street Journal, 7/31/08)
So how exactly will ACORN be rewarded if the Democrats get their way? Very simple: behind closed doors, ACORN-friendly language was slipped into the Democratic economic rescue proposal by Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd (D-CT) and House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank (D-MA). Take a look:
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TRANSFER OF A PERCENTAGE OF PROFITS.
1. DEPOSITS. Not less than 20 percent of any profit realized on the sale of each troubled asset purchased under this Act shall be deposited as provided in paragraph (2).
2. USE OF DEPOSITS. Of the amount referred to in paragraph (1) 1. 65 percent shall be deposited into the Housing Trust Fund established under section 1338 of the Federal Housing Enterprises Regulatory Reform Act of 1992 (12 U.S.C. 4568); and 2. 35 percent shall be deposited into the Capital Magnet Fund established under section 1339 of that Act (12 U.S.C. 4569).
REMAINDER DEPOSITED IN THE TREASURY. All amounts remaining after payments under paragraph (1) shall be paid into the General Fund of the Treasury for reduction of the public debt. |
What does this mean? The Wall Street Journal breaks it down in an editorial published today:
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“What we have here essentially are a pair of government slush funds created in July as part of the Economic Recovery Act that pump tax dollars into the coffers of low-income housing advocacy groups, such as Acorn.”
“Acorn, one of America’s most militant left-wing ‘community activist groups,’ is spending $16 million this year to register Democrats to vote in November. In the past several years, Acorn’s voter registration programs have come under investigation in Ohio, Colorado, Michigan, Missouri and Washington, while several of their employees have been convicted of voter fraud…”
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That’s right. Rather than returning any profits made in the long-term from the economic rescue package, Democrats want to first reward their radical allies at ACORN for their help – often illegal help – in getting Democrats elected to office. Families, seniors, small businesses, and all American taxpayers deserve better than what Democratic leaders are attempting to jam down their throats.
The rescue package should not become a “Christmas tree” for the Democratic Majority’s far-left wing political agenda that seeks to shower taxpayer dollars upon groups like ACORN. On behalf of beleaguered taxpayers across the nation, House Republicans will continue to fight to remove the ACORN payback and any other Democratic poison pills from the economic rescue package.
FIGHT!
The Republicans say since the Democrats have a majority they can pass this without them and most of the Republicans are being kept out of the loop. This is a takeover by the Democrats of our Nation in the worst way. If Obama gets in we’re going to hell!
McCain needs to get out there and say he won’t vote “yes” for anything that has ACORN crap on it.
Just say no to liberal pimping hustlers.
NO!NO!NO!
IF THEY SUPPORT ACORN. I WANT TO KNOW WHO!!!
WE WILL PROTEST! I NEED 50 PEOPLE WITH NAMES(PETITIONS) FROM ALL 50 STATES...WE WILL NEED TO TAKE THEM TO WASHINGTON! This has got to stop! I am not paying for ACORN!
Urgent: Call your congress people about this.
“McCain needs to get out there and say he won’t vote “yes” for anything that has ACORN crap on it.”
I can’t agree w you more. I don’t think it was just me, I think it was a lot of us voicing our opinions to our elected officials and saying NO to ACORN. I had a conversation(sometimes vent)with a nice lady in my Rep’s office (Reichert - WA State) yesterday on this subject and included language on a message to McCain (on their website - opinions about debate) and a message to FNC today. I’m sure many of you have voiced your opinion w your elected officials as well - - if not, please help. We cannot let ACORN get $.01 from whatever plan will come out of Congress (and there is going to be one).
....anybody remember Ton Wolfe’s “Bonfire of the Vanities” back in the 1980s?....remember the character Reverend Bacon?....thats what I think of when I hear about ACORN and guys like Obama who worked as community organizers....money hustlers hiding behind a so called “moral cause”
We heard, yesterday, that the ACORN hand-out was dropped. Is it back in?
It was ACORN and groups like them (la Raza) that got us into this mess in the first place, with their insistence on a kind of affirmative action housing plan, which would bring an end to “red-lining”.
Now, the Democrats want to take our tax money to re-start the risky loans that financed the end of “red-lining”. What is even worse is that a significant number of these bad loans were made to illegal aliens in areas that have been termed, “the ground zero of the housing crisis, Phoenix, Las Vegas, and California’s inland empire (around Sacramento). Is there any doubt that a significant number of these new homeowners/illegal aliens are registered to vote? Registered as Democrats, of course.
The larger issue is ACORN’s direct roll in this economic fiasco. ACORN pressured lending institutions to make affordable loans to the low income group. The only way that lending institutions could make the loans afford was through gimmicks including low teaser rates, interest only, and adjustable loans. In addition, ACORN pressured lending institutions to eliminate traditional credit checks including credit scores, income verification, and other prudent measures of borrower ability to pay.
The principal lesson from this fiasco is that lending institutions should not be politicized. The rats are trying to reward ACORN thus perpetuating the very practices that led to the problem. The rats are through with allowing lending institutions to make loans affordable. They will use the direct hand of government to force affordability. Lending institutions will still be required to lend but they will not be able to charge any premium. The homeowner bailout bill passed in July provides a new refundable tax credit of $7,500 for first time home owners. This credit is an interest free loan for 15 years. You should expect a number of other similar programs some targeted directly to lenders. For example, lenders may be given direct subsidies for low income borrowers just like student loan lenders are given.
I think that the rats are positioning ACORN as the primary provider of low income housing. ACORN will contract for building low income housing and control financing. Low income housing will become a student loan type of program.
IT’S ABOUT TIME.....SCREAM THIS AS LOUD AS YOU CAN!!!!
I want Boehner to find out who wrote that language and who thought they would get away with this scheme.
What ever happened to those “call President Bush/your congressman and tell him NO to money for ACORN” issue ads?
Dems Want to Reward Scandal-Tarnished "Community Organizing" Group in Economic Rescue Bill(WOW!)
Dems' bailout want $ for corrupt 'ACORN' (Dems want 20 Billion for Voter Fraud?)
Bastards! The Rats keep becoming more and more emboldened because of the complicit press! This country is being destroyed from within!
I am so furious!!
Burning Down The House: What Caused Our Economic Crisis?
This wasn't a failure of free markets, this was a bastardization of free markets caused by well intentioned Gubmint Socialist social engineering programs. Just google "Community Redevelopment Act".
Has not the idea of considering a total reconsidering of government spending been placed on the table as of yet?
After all, we are all going to have to suffer the slam-dunk, pay up now, reality of our complacent and let someone else take care of it attitude soon?
Perhaps paying off our national debt is a too late to be effective directive.
Huh? OK i am not bumd i meen dum. But i dont get it.
$20 Billion for ACORN?
But didn’t Barry just say last night that there was only $18 Bil in earmarks for the entire federal budget?
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