ACORN To Get Your Taxdollars

U.S. House GOP Leader John Boener (R-OH) has reported that left-wing groups like ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now), could be eligible for billions of taxpayer dollars from the Democrats' trillion dollar spending plan. ACORN is reportedly under federal investigation and has been accused of perpetrating voter registration fraud on numerous occasions.

In a news statement Boehner asks, "What does this have to do with job creation? Are Congressional Democrats really going to borrow money from our children and grandchildren to give handouts to ACORN in the name of economic stimulus?"

The Democrats spending bill would make $4.19 billion available to groups like ACORN for "neighborhood stabilization activities." Funds for neighborhood stabilization were authorized in the Housing and Economic Recovery Act, signed into law in 2008. Those funds, however, were limited to state and local government entities. House Majority Democrats are now making those funds available to groups like ACORN.

Included in the House Democrats' spending bill is $1 billion for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program. CDBG funds are given to state and local governments which can contract with non-profits for services related to the grant and ACORN knows how to secure CDBG funding. From FY 2003 to FY 2007, ACORN spent $1,588,599 in CDBG funds according to audit reports filed by ACORN with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

Boehner released a study of federal records in October of 2008 that listed tens of millions in federal grants to ACORN. A new updated and expansive study reveals that ACORN actually received millions more then first reported. A review of the "Federal Register" and news releases by federal agencies reveal that ACORN was awarded more then $53 million in federal funds, this does not reflect the millions more ACORN received in federal funds passed to them by state and local government agencies.