Washington DC Congressman Pete Sessions (TX-32) has advanced legislative text to require full transparency and accountability of tax dollars granted to the Association of Community Organization for Reform Now (ACORN) which has been charged with at least 39 felony counts of voter fraud and illegal registration activities this week.
On Monday the Attorney General of Nevada charged ACORN with 26 counts of voter registration fraud and 13 counts of paying for voter registration activities effecting the 2008 elections. Allegations include voter registrations with false information and multiple voter registrations of the same person. Additionally today a District Attorney in Pennsylvania announced charges against ACORN workers for falsifying voter registration forms. Several states are investigating ACORN for voter registration fraud; Nevada and Pennsylvania are the first two states to bring charges against the organization this year.
As a liberal interest group disguised as an anti-poverty organization ACORN has received billions of tax dollars for housing programs thanks to Congressional Democrats unwavering commitment to padding the pockets of left-wing special interest groups" stated Sessions. Now ACORN faces serious charges of fraud taking their advocacy for their liberal social agenda beyond the bounds of the law."
American taxpayers deserve answers to how their hard-earned tax dollars are being used" Sessions continued. That is why I am committed to standing up for taxpayers ensuring that irresponsible organizations such as ACORN are held accountable for their actions to the fullest extent of the law and that tax dollars are returned when improper use is found."
As a proposed amendment to the Mortgage Reform and Anti-Predatory Lending Act Sessions transparency measure would ensure that ACORN and all organizations affiliated with ACORN submit a report on how they spend taxpayer dollars. If used beyond the scope of grant and federal funding guidelines ACORN would be forced to repay the funds within 12 months and would be banned from receiving future grants or financial assistance under the Mortgage Reform bill.
Sessions amendment was voted down by a party-line vote in the House Rules Committee on Wednesday May 6. Congressional Democrats cited the amendment as too specific" even though Congress subjects financial institutions receiving government funding to the same transparency standards outlined in Sessions amendment. In response Sessions amendment was broadened to include all grant recipientsincluding ACORNunder the bill. The House approved this text today by voice vote as a Republican amendment to the bill.
For far too long Congressional Democrats have forced greater government control and accountability in the private markets while shielding their friends at ACORN from the same scrutiny" said Sessions. Especially at time when millions of taxpayers are struggling to pay mortgages and make ends meet I will continue to call on Democrats in Congress to prioritize good public policy over political favors to the organizations that helped elect them."
Washington DC Congressman Pete Sessions (TX-32) has advanced legislative text to require full transparency and accountability of tax dollars granted to the Association of Community Organization for Reform Now (ACORN) which has been charged with at least 39 felony counts of voter fraud and illegal registration activities this week.
On Monday the Attorney General of Nevada charged ACORN with 26 counts of voter registration fraud and 13 counts of paying for voter registration activities effecting the 2008 elections. Allegations include voter registrations with false information and multiple voter registrations of the same person. Additionally today a District Attorney in Pennsylvania announced charges against ACORN workers for falsifying voter registration forms. Several states are investigating ACORN for voter registration fraud; Nevada and Pennsylvania are the first two states to bring charges against the organization this year.
As a liberal interest group disguised as an anti-poverty organization ACORN has received billions of tax dollars for housing programs thanks to Congressional Democrats unwavering commitment to padding the pockets of left-wing special interest groups" stated Sessions. Now ACORN faces serious charges of fraud taking their advocacy for their liberal social agenda beyond the bounds of the law."
American taxpayers deserve answers to how their hard-earned tax dollars are being used" Sessions continued. That is why I am committed to standing up for taxpayers ensuring that irresponsible organizations such as ACORN are held accountable for their actions to the fullest extent of the law and that tax dollars are returned when improper use is found."
As a proposed amendment to the Mortgage Reform and Anti-Predatory Lending Act Sessions transparency measure would ensure that ACORN and all organizations affiliated with ACORN submit a report on how they spend taxpayer dollars. If used beyond the scope of grant and federal funding guidelines ACORN would be forced to repay the funds within 12 months and would be banned from receiving future grants or financial assistance under the Mortgage Reform bill.
Sessions amendment was voted down by a party-line vote in the House Rules Committee on Wednesday May 6. Congressional Democrats cited the amendment as too specific" even though Congress subjects financial institutions receiving government funding to the same transparency standards outlined in Sessions amendment. In response Sessions amendment was broadened to include all grant recipientsincluding ACORNunder the bill. The House approved this text today by voice vote as a Republican amendment to the bill.
For far too long Congressional Democrats have forced greater government control and accountability in the private markets while shielding their friends at ACORN from the same scrutiny" said Sessions. Especially at time when millions of taxpayers are struggling to pay mortgages and make ends meet I will continue to call on Democrats in Congress to prioritize good public policy over political favors to the organizations that helped elect them."
