Illinois Rep. Biggert Introduces Defund ACORN Bill

-By Warner Todd Huston of www.publiusforum.com

U.S. Representative Judy Biggert (R, Hinsdale, IL) introduced legislation last week intended to prevent misuse of federal housing counseling funds.

"It's abundantly clear that ACORN and its affiliates cannot be trusted as a federally certified entity," said Biggert, a senior member of the House Financial Services Committee. "Given the group's clear links to illegal and inappropriate activities, how can we knowingly give them federal certification to divert precious resources from legitimate housing counselors working overtime to help struggling homeowners?"

For years federal funds have flowed into ACORN's coffers for services given to low-income home buyers across the country. These services are intended to counsel low-income buyers on how to go about the mortgage process, to inform them of subsides and government services, and to assist the purchase.

Biggert noted that the IRS and the Census Bureau have already cut ties with ACORN and Biggert thinks that Housing and Urban Development (HUD) should do the same. "It's the responsible thing to do," Biggert said. "Those who go to a HUD-approval counselor for help with their personal finances shouldn't have to question the integrity or political bias behind the advice they receive. Let's let the inspector general do his job and shed some much-needed sunlight on how these public funds are being used."

ACORN has received $53 million in direct federal funding since 1994, but this figure is likely not the full picture. ACORN has so many false front corporations, and off-shoot groups and agencies spawned from its main office that tracking all the federal money that has ended up going to ACORN and its subsidiaries is likely impossible to pinpoint.

Additionally, ACORN is thoroughly linked to numerous politicians and federal and state offices and programs, so fully excising ACORN is not a simple matter.

The nature of the intertwined association between government and ACORN is why we ask that you join us and Say NO to ACORN.

Sign the petition and tell Governor Quinn that you want a real investigation to end corruption for good.