Government Money Used to Support ACORN Fraud

As Allegations Against ACORN Mount, So Does Pressure to Investigate, Cut-Off Public Funds to Corrupt Organization Last update: 5:52 p.m. EDT Oct. 10, 2008 WASHINGTON, Oct 10, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- James Terry, Chief Public Advocate for the Consumers Rights League, today issued the following statement supporting the calls of House Republican Minority Leader John Boehner, Minority Whip Roy Blunt and Senator John Ensign to investigate the activities of ACORN as well as suspend taxpayer funds to the organization in light of mounting evidence of fraudulent activity in Nevada, Missouri and Ohio. CRL also expressed outrage over ACORN's willingness to accept rampant fraud as the cost of doing business. James Terry, Chief Public Advocate, Consumers Rights League: "ACORN says they don't take federal money, but AHC takes millions and from 2004 to 2006 on funneled 4.6 million to ACORN. They have been able to get away with it due to a convoluted, Enron kind of accounting but this must stop. Congress must cut off funds, investigate and prosecute those who are found to be willfully using taxpayer funds to support fraudulent political operations and put in place transparency, reporting requirements and firewall requirements to prevent future abuses. "Senator Ensign and Congressmen Boehner and Blunt are right -- enough is enough. With ACORN standing to reap millions in taxpayer dollars from the financial crisis it helped create, this multi-national, corrupt organization needs to be investigated, not further rewarded. Now, with 40 Members of the House of Representatives and two House leaders calling for an investigation, along with Senator Ensign calling for an immediate suspension of taxpayer dollars to ACORN, it is time the Congressional leadership and the appropriate federal authorities to take action to ensure taxpayers are protected. "Not a single additional cent should be doled out to ACORN with its growing list of questionable practices. And the public money already flowing to this organization should be suspended immediately. "ACORN's admission in Ohio that fraud is acceptable is stunning in its gravity and their reasoning is simply not credible. It is difficult to swallow the notion that an organization spending an estimated $50 million plus on a voter registration project would cite lack of resources as an excuse to accept fraudulent practices. "The fact is, year after year, ACORN has consistently displayed contempt for the law and a willingness to accept rampant fraud as a simple cost of doing business. Unfortunately, voter registration is not the only area of ACORN's operation to disregard the law. This organization has a long history of fraud, embezzlement and misuse of taxpayer funds. With an estimated $110 million annual budget, there is more than adequate resources to allow for proper oversight. But there seems to be a culture of corruption that pervades the organization that should be investigated not rewarded with millions more of taxpayer dollars." Background: James Terry testified at a joint House Administration and House Judiciary Committee oversight hearing on "Federal, State and Local Efforts to Prepare for the General 2008 Election," where he highlighted "corruption at every level of ACORN including embezzlement, cover-ups, misuse of taxpayer funds and voter fraud. The testimony can be viewed here: http://www.consumersrightsleague.org/uploadedfiles/JamesTerryACORN9-24.pdf

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