ACORN blocked from Census, HUD funding

The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) has a had a rough week. The Census Bureau dropped the organization as a community partner after a FOX News sting operation, prompting praise from Rep. Michele Bachmann. Sens. Al Franken and Amy Klobuchar voted with the majority in the U.S. Senate to block ACORN from getting federal funds.

The Senate voted on an amendment Monday evening to block ACORN from receiving housing grants under the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. Minnesota Sens. Al Franken and Amy Klobuchar were among this voting in favor. The roll call was 83 yeas, 7 nays, and 9 not voting.

The vote came on the heels of a decision on Friday by the Census Bureau to eliminate ACORN as a community partner. The Bureau severed ties due the growing uproar over a sting operation by FOX News that prompted an ACORN employee to assist undercover FOX employees in setting up a small business for a brothel.

Rep. Michele Bachmann, who has been on a campaign to prevent federal funds for ACORN, was pleased with the news.

“I had written the Census Bureau again last week when these videos were released to reiterate my request that ACORN be removed from its census partnership program,” she wrote in an email to supporters. “I also wrote the IRS to ask for an investigation of their tax exempt status, to the Speaker of the House to ask for a Congressional investigation of ACORN’s activities, and to the Department of Housing and Urban Development to ask that it be debarred from HUD programs.”

She continued, “I am pleased that the Census Bureau has finally severed its ties with ACORN, but I will continue to work to see that this organization is no longer eligible for millions in your tax dollars.”