Congressman Bachus Statement On House Vote To Defund Acorn

WASHINGTON - Congressman Spencer Bachus (AL-6) 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.