It seems that several of our conservative friends have been telling people that ACORN has been de-funded by Congress.
I am sorry to tell you the news. It is not true. ACORN has not been permanently de-funded.
ACORN is still working to promote liberal policies. ACORN is still working to engage in voter activities, the same type that led to fraud. And ACORN is still eligible for federal funding.
ACORN has not been de-funded by Congress.
Even with the battles we are fighting on multiple issues it is critical that we keep the pressure up now - and don't let up - to ensure Congress fully de-funds ACORN.
ACU has been the leader on fighting ACORN funding since early last year, and with your help, we have made progress but we have NOT won the war against ACORN.
Many believe that ACORN has lost all of its federal funding.
In fact, even BILL O'REILLY, the host of the "The O'Reilly Factor" said October 14 on live television, "ACORN has imploded. Congressional funds have been cut off..." But, unfortunately this is not the case.
Other media outlets have made similar statements. National Public Radio reported Congress has blocked most of the money ACORN Housing relies upon to do its work. The New York Times wrote, "Congress voted to cut off federal financing for Acorn."
Although ACORN funding support has begun to slip, Congress has not fully de-funded it.
Unfortunately many of our more conservative friends have been falsely lulled into a sense that ACORN has lost all of its federal funding.
As our ACU Director of Government Relations Larry Hart said, "Don't be fooled by news reports claiming that Congress is defunding ACORN. None of these bills have been signed into law and efforts are underway by powerful liberals such as Barney Frank and John Conyers to eliminate the defunding from the bills. They are even trying to say that barring a corrupt organization from receiving taxpayer money is unconstitutional."
That's right. Many liberals do not seem to care about the constitution when it comes to freedom of speech at town halls, the 2nd Amendment, or freedom of religion - but when the liberals want to stop ACORN from being de-funded they started running to the constitution. They have asked Congressional researchers to look into whether specifically targeting ACORN to lose federal funds is unconstitutional.
None of us have read a news story about Barack Obama signing a new law eliminating all federal funding for ACORN. Why? ... Because it has not happened.
Multiple probes have been launched into ACORN's criminal activities. Probes have been launched into voter fraud. Some state governments are now finally investigating ACORN.
It is true, we have won some battles in shining the light on ACORN's activities. Some federal departments have started suspending some joint ACORN projects. The House has passed a bill de-funding ACORN. The Senate passed legislation partially de-funding ACORN - but they have not been reconciled and it has not been signed into law.
Again, ACORN has not been fully de-funded. Both houses of Congress have not passed final ACORN de-funding legislation and it has not been signed into law.
Many in Congress think the American people have turned their attention elsewhere. It is true that we must fight together on multiple fronts right now, but we cannot let this issue fall to the wayside.
Everyday it seems we learn something new about ACORN. Today, for instance, the brave young people who made the videos showing ACORN's involvement in prostitution in multiple cities released another video about ACORN in Philadelphia - because they are now trying to defend themselves from an ACORN lawsuit.
While we fight ACORN, the leaders of ACORN are fighting amongst themselves - the Louisiana chapter is erupting in disputes and people are pointing fingers at each other over internal embezzlement charges. Reports are that previous ACORN leaders embezzled up to $5 million of ACORN funds - while ACORN was receiving federal taxpayer money.
As news reports noted, Republican Committee staff on the Senate Finance Committee said just a few weeks ago that ACORN is taking charitable contributions and using it for illegal lobbying and election activities.
We have ACORN on the ropes but we cannot let up in this fight.
Just last week Illinois Republican Congresswoman Judy Biggert introduced legislation to strip ACORN's ability to qualify for federal housing dollars - this proves that ACU must have your continued support to fight ACORN day by day.
David Norcross, the chairman of the Republican National Lawyers Association, told another interviewer for NPR, "They're on the ropes now, but they're not out by any manner or means. Don't assume because of everything you read that suddenly this fight is over."
He is right. It is not over. ACU will not give up - with your help we will not give up either.
