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Bachus Statement on House Vote To Defund ACORN


WASHINGTON, Sep 17 -

Financial Services Committee Ranking Member Spencer Bachus issued the following statement today after the House of Representatives voted to eliminate federal funding for ACORN, a far left activist group linked to voter registration fraud and other potential criminal activities.

"Today's successful vote to stop funding for ACORN is a culmination of House Republican work to protect the taxpayer. As Ranking Member on the Financial Services Committee, I proposed cutting off taxpayer funding for ACORN last March, but my amendment was defeated on a party-line vote.  It is long past time for the federal government to sever its ties with a corrupt organization that has repeatedly been involved in scandal and questionable activities.  We cannot stop with this vote.  There must be full investigation of ACORN and a complete accounting of how the $53 million in taxpayer money given to it since 1994 has been used and abused."

During a Financial Services Committee markup on March 11, 2009, Congressman Bachus offered an amendment that included a provision defunding ACORN.  The measure was defeated on a straight party-line vote of 27-37.

In addition, Congressman Bachus wrote to Chairman Barney Frank on October 14, 2008 requesting committee hearings on alleged abuses of taxpayer dollars by ACORN. 

Click here to view the March amendment and here to view the October letter to Chairman Frank are attached