ACORN Lives!`
By Robert Brodsky
It appears ACORN may have more lives than a creature from some bad horror movie.
Nearly six months after Congress passed a series of provisions banning the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now from receiving federal contracts or grants, the Office of Management and Budget has alerted agencies that it can begin funding the controversial group again.
In a March 16 memo, OMB Director Peter Orszag told agencies that the legislative provisions were declared unconstitutional by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York and were thereby voided. Agencies were told that ACORN can legally secure government funding for its non-profit operations.
If you remember, ACORN got into some trouble last year after company officials were filmed by a pair of conservative activists--dressed as a pimp and prostitute--offering guidance on how to hide their income.
The Department of Justice is filing an appeal of the District Court decision and is seeking a stay pending appeal.
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Government Executive Editor in Chief Tom Shoop, along with other editors and staff correspondents, take a fresh look at news affecting the management and operations of the federal bureaucracy.
Still seems alarming that Orszag hasn't opened their books but still deems them a "legal non-profit" operation. Weird how some groups have to PROVE they qualify but ACORN btw, under a new name,,, does not have to prove anything of the sort.
Rollin Owens Posted Thursday, March 18, 2010 2:56 PMWow! Is this lie still being pushed around. It has already been proven that O'keefe and company edited the videos. . .
AND O'keefe and Giles themselves have FINALLY admitted that O'Keefe NEVER dressed up as a pimp. He went into the ACORN offices as the well dressed boyfriend of Giles' prostitute.
Might want to get those facts straight (or should I say lack of facts).
Concerned Citizen Posted Thursday, March 18, 2010 3:05 PMThe Executive Branch rigs funding all the time. There's an EPA grant program that allows grants to small businesses that qualify, but the agency doesn't admit that to applicants, so the money always goes to nonprofits. If Obama really wants to keep the money away from ACORN he will find a way. If, however, he wants to help his old friends and former employer, they will get the money. Place your bets!
Ron Posted Friday, March 19, 2010 8:18 AM"If you remember, ACORN got into some trouble last year after company officials were filmed by a pair of conservative activists--dressed as a pimp and prostitute--offering guidance on how to hide their income."
In fact, the perpetrators of that scam did NOT dress that way when visiting the ACORN offices, the voice track of the videos has been "tweaked," so you can't tell for sure what question the ACORN staffer was replying to (the 'pimp' is off-camera, so you can't even read lips), and a court has struck down the Congressional action stripping ACORN of funding (it's unConstitutional to pass a 'bill of attainder').
Other than that, you're correct.
Robert Clayton Posted Friday, March 19, 2010 9:47 AMACORN = shut them down: NOW
FJ Posted Friday, March 19, 2010 10:52 AMThis is a real shock ACORN getting govt aid!! This was totally expected when they registered so many dead to vote for barak.
dan ketter Posted Friday, March 19, 2010 1:38 PMThey are under indictment in 14 states for voter fraud and herhishog sees no problem??
Govt at its worst
And why do they rate federal funding?
Mark Posted Friday, March 19, 2010 1:42 PMApparently the information that the whole thing was a fraud perpetrated by the filmmakers is not generally known. The filmmakers did not arrive at the Acorn office dressed in pimp/ho clothes. They filmed that separately, looped it in and cut it with the Acorn worker answering questions that may well have been innocuous.
sohara28 Posted Friday, March 19, 2010 2:14 PMACORN is dissolving in many states (like Ohio) and declaring bankruptcy. I suppose they should be paid all their promised government funds before they finalize all the above...
Don't believe the lies about OKeefe and Giles, they did exactly what they said they did and caught ACORN employees red-handed helping a pimp and prostitute learn how to conduct an illegal and immoral business and get away with it. There was no editing of tapes... oh and by the way, there are more tapes.
BS Posted Monday, March 22, 2010 1:56 PMThank GOD. ACORN does great work and will continue to do great work for many years to come.
Maezeppa Posted Friday, March 26, 2010 5:49 PM