Senate votes on Johanns amendment to cut off ACORN housing funds; Update: Amendment passes, 83-7

By Michelle Malkin  •  September 14, 2009 05:22 PM


Photoshop credit: Leo Alberti

Just watched GOP Sen. Mike Johanns introduce his amendment on the Senate floor banning federal funds in the current transportation and housing appropriations bill from going to ACORN. Currently, ACORN is eligible to receive millions more in taxpayer funds through mortgage counseling, Community Development Block Grants, and the Neighborhood Stabilization Program — in addition to the tens of millions ACORN Housing Corp. has already received.

The vote is underway right now.

The Johanns Amendment is #2355 to H.R. 3288.

Johanns cited the BigGovernment.com sting videos as evidence that ACORN cannot be trusted with government money:

“Until a full investigation is launched into ACORN, no taxpayer money should be used to fund its activities. A vote in favor of my amendment is a vote in favor of the taxpayer and a vote against the status quo.”

He forgot to add the five most important words:

ACORN is a criminal enterprise.

5:42pm Eastern. Roll call vote still underway. Several Democrats have voted AYE, including Cardin, Carper, Inouye, Johnson (SD), Murray, Tester, Warner, Bingaman, Begich, Nelson (NE), Webb, Landrieu, Bayh, Conrad, Rockefeller, Dodd, Pryor, Hagan, Kohl, Feingold, Boxer, Nelson (FL), Brown, Harkin, Lincoln, Wyden, Baucus, Klobuchar, Kaufman, Shaheen, Lautenberg (switched from no to yes), Menendez, Stabenow, Leiberman, Levin, McCaskill, Reid, Feinstein, Udall, Bennet (CO) Merkley, Cantwell, Dorgan, Schumer…

Durbin was a no. I’ll have the rest soon.

The final roll call vote – amendment passes 83-7. I’ll post the full roll when it’s up on the Senate site.

This is the beginning, not the end.

The Dems are finally, finally on the defensive on ACORN.

Republicans, keep digging and pushing and connecting the dots.

***

Update: Here are the ignominious ACORN sex ring enablers….

Burris (D-IL)
Casey (D-PA)
Durbin (D-IL)
Gillibrand (D-NY)
Leahy (D-VT)
Sanders (I-VT)
Whitehouse (D-RI)

Full roll call vote here. 9 not voting…

Burr (R-NC)
Byrd (D-WV)
Coburn (R-OK)
Graham (R-SC)
Gregg (R-NH)
Hutchison (R-TX)
McCain (R-AZ)
Mikulski (D-MD)
Vitter (R-LA)

***

Here’s a reminder of why McCain is such a flakeout on ACORN: REMEMBER?

Update: Several readers note that McCain and Graham were at a town hall event in S.C. at the Citadel earlier today. Still doesn’t excuse McCain’s alliance with ACORN on open borders. Also, the town hall was at 9am. Not clear whether they were already back in D.C. or not by the time the amendment hit the Senate floor after 5pm Eastern earlier this evening.

~ For the latest breaking news, be sure to join Michelle's e-mail list ~
Posted in: ACORN Watch

See what others have said

Note from Michelle: This section is for comments from michellemalkin.com's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that I agree with or endorse any particular comment just because I let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with my terms of use may lose his or her posting privilege.

Comments


  1. #101
    On September 15th, 2009 at 1:48 am, Dasher said:

    Seems like all funding to ACORN should be cut off not just housing monies.

  2. #102
    On September 15th, 2009 at 1:49 am, Dasher said:

    Well I can post on Michele’s site but Hot Air – not able to post all day long. Is this going to get fixed?

  3. #103
    On September 15th, 2009 at 5:27 am, Bogtrotter said:

    Rarely have any television show “teasers” ever had me waiting in severe anticipation. But the news that tomorrow Fox and Glenn Beck are releasing yet another ACORN video has me that way. Each one is a nail in thier coffin. First dumped by the census, now the senate voting to cut off funding. I am hoping for a complete audit and investigation after this next one. But we have to be vigilant and make sure the administration does not find a backdoor way to get cash to them.

  4. #104
    On September 15th, 2009 at 7:58 am, GDSuffern said:

    What’s with my senator not voting? Richard Burr has no reason whatsoever to sit this one out. He’s up for reelection, yes, but last I checked, he was still conservative. hmmm.

  5. #105
    On September 15th, 2009 at 8:23 am, ArizonaNeanderthal said:

    Senator McCain’s flake out was in October of 2008-that was during the Bush ll administration. These phony, dishonest payoffs to political organizations SHOULD have been a target much earlier. That Graham (R-SC), Hutchison (R-TX) and McCain (R-AZ) wimped is to be expected.

    But in the name of Compassionate Conservatism they use OUR money to try and buy off the Radical Left. It never works. Please pay attention Republicans, use the people’s money wisely and OBEY THE CONSTITUTION.

  6. #106
    On September 15th, 2009 at 8:32 am, NJ-Aviator said:

    Interesting that both Illinois senators voted to keep giving ACORN our money. That tells me Obama likely still wants to keep the Benjamin’s flowin’ to ACORN.

  7. #107
    On September 15th, 2009 at 8:34 am, NJ-Aviator said:

    Can we get an ACORN logo adorned with prison stripes and an inmate number?

  8. #108
    On September 15th, 2009 at 8:40 am, Veretax said:

    The article on hot air asked “Has The One opened his mouth yet to say anything about his pals being in such dire straits?”

    The answer is simple, he won’t say a word most likely. In fact if he does say anything you can bet like Van Jones, Rev Wright, and others he will throw them under the bus to make himself look better.

    So this is not over by a long stretch.

  9. #109
    On September 15th, 2009 at 8:52 am, NJ-Aviator said:

    Veretax said:

    The article on hot air asked “Has The One opened his mouth yet to say anything about his pals being in such dire straits?”

    Yeah, the most you will hear, since ACORN is HIS baby…. is “This is not the ACORN I know.”

    Funny how the list of corrupt racist criminals Obama is associated with is as long as highway 61…. but somehow he claims he either never knew anything about these people somehow, all of a sudden, they all went bad just the other day and it has nothing to do with him.

    Sure. Anything you say Barry. It’s more likely that the President is a corrupt thug just like his pals.

  10. #110
    On September 15th, 2009 at 8:52 am, huhwhat said:

    Oh man! I live in Illinois and true to form Burris and Durbin voted in favor of continuing to send taxpayer funds to a criminal enterprise. It isn’t even 8 AM yet and I need a drink to calm down. I am so ticked! (I was kidding about the drink).

  11. #111
    On September 15th, 2009 at 8:57 am, rooster said:

    I don’t believe money will stop going to Obama’s #1 ally. This passed way too easily. Don’t watch the mouth move, look whats in the hands behind their back. I believe there is something sinster behind this public relations ploy to get us thinking ACORN is on the outs.
    Trust, but verify

  12. #112
    On September 15th, 2009 at 9:09 am, NJ-Aviator said:

    Rooster… I agree.

    This bit of detail seems too specific.

    The Senate’s move would mean that ACORN would not be able to win HUD grants for programs such as counseling low-income people on how to get mortgages and for fair housing education and outreach.

    I would not be surprised if other channels remain open.

    I would change “Trust, but verify” to….

    Trust no one. Verify everything.

  13. #113
    On September 15th, 2009 at 9:33 am, b-cat said:

    From IMAO this am:

    Yay! ACORN has been defunded! I wonder if we should be suspicious though of this new BCORN that just popped up?

  14. #114
    On September 15th, 2009 at 9:33 am, TigerLady said:

    Trust no one. Verify everything.

    And keep asking questions.

    Rooster is correct that we should be watching the other hand. This is the largest shell game in the history of corrupt shell games.

  15. #115
    On September 15th, 2009 at 9:39 am, nuss said:

    How do you navigate with this new system of numbering members comments? I can view only one page of comments even though it is obvious that many more have been posted?

  16. #116
    On September 15th, 2009 at 9:43 am, ITookTheRedPill said:

    An organization where Obama worked and taught others has now been shown to have repeatedly helped setup whorehouses.

    But with friends like these, how can anyone be so gullible as to believe that Obama is “the only virgin in the whorehouse“?

    Do you remember some of Barack’s other friends?

  17. #117
    On September 15th, 2009 at 9:45 am, ITookTheRedPill said:

    nuss,

    Above the large-font “Leave a comment“, you will notice a smaller-font “<< Older Comments“. Click on that link to go back to the prior page of comments.

    There are still 100 comments per page, just as before, it’s just harder to make sense of it with the new numbering.

  18. #118
    On September 15th, 2009 at 9:52 am, b-cat said:

    Anyone who thinks the numbering system sucks, raise your virtual hands!

  19. #119
    On September 15th, 2009 at 10:02 am, nuss said:

    To: ITookTheRedPill….thanks.

  20. #120
    On September 15th, 2009 at 10:06 am, BruceB said:

    Watch the funding be stuck back into health care bill.

  21. #121
    On September 15th, 2009 at 10:16 am, cheapseat said:

    this is an easy vote because it is completely meaningless. they are talking about 53 million since 1994, which is the same as talking about 75 thousand marchers in washington this past weekend. acorn (the umbrella) is scheduled to recieve billions in the next few years. WATCH THE MONEY.

  22. #122
    On September 15th, 2009 at 10:19 am, chapoutier said:

    acorn (the umbrella) is scheduled to recieve billions in the next few years. WATCH THE MONEY.

    No. It isn’t. This is silly misinformation that obscures a legitimate point about ACORN.

  23. #123
    On September 15th, 2009 at 10:35 am, DBNinKY said:

    WATCH THE MONEY.

    True. Since 1994 ACORN has received more than 53B in tax dollar funding. (Yes, libs, I “googled it.”)

  24. #124
    On September 15th, 2009 at 10:42 am, chapoutier said:

    True. Since 1994 ACORN has received more than 53B in tax dollar funding. (Yes, libs, I “googled it.”)

    You are wrong by a factor of about 1000.

  25. #125
    On September 15th, 2009 at 11:33 am, DBNinKY said:

    Not according to my sources, which include all of ACORN’s affiliatestentacles in the dollar count.

  26. #126
    On September 15th, 2009 at 11:36 am, DBNinKY said:

    Oops! “include” + d

  27. #127
    On September 15th, 2009 at 11:38 am, happyscrapper said:

    Glenn Beck just mentioned the possibility that Obama might have been “groomed” for many years to become President. I have thought this for a very long time, but it just sounded too conspiratorial! It makes sense!! Who better to CHANGE this country than a “clean, articulate, black man”? Someone who has a gift of oratory…someone who has charisma? Someone who, if anyone questioned about any of his ideas, could be charged with “racism”? How better to shut us up than with political correctness oppressing of our free speech? It could explain the whitewashing of his college records, etc. Unfortunately for the “groomers”, they couldn’t erase the 20+ years in Wright’s “church”. Or the other dubious associations. I guess they thought they could just cover up and no one would care or investigate. That is one big failure of the radical left…they don’t understand the American Patriotic spirit! We are the sons and daughters of the American Revolution. We believe in freedom and capitalism. Would we go down easily? He11 no! It is not in their DNA to even comprehend true love of this country!! That will be their downfall!

  28. #128
    On September 15th, 2009 at 11:40 am, chapoutier said:

    Not according to my sources, which include all of ACORN’s affiliatestentacles in the dollar count.

    Do share.

  29. #129
    On September 15th, 2009 at 11:40 am, stillontheroad said:

    With all this info coming out about this organization – Why not use RICO?

  30. #130
    On September 15th, 2009 at 11:47 am, DBNinKY said:

    You’d only laugh and dismiss them as partisan.

  31. #131
    On September 15th, 2009 at 11:50 am, chapoutier said:

    You’d only laugh and dismiss them as partisan.

    Well forgive me, then, if I will go by what everyone else in the world is saying, including MM, which is somewhere around $53 MILLION over the life of the group.

  32. #132
    On September 15th, 2009 at 11:55 am, Salt said:

    $53mm is $53mm too much for them. Hopefully this 83-7 vote is only the beginning of cutting off all federal money to this sham of a “charity”.

  33. #133
    On September 15th, 2009 at 11:57 am, happyscrapper said:

    On September 15th, 2009 at 9:43 am, ITookTheRedPill said:

    Great post, RedPill!! A fabulous run-down of O’s cronies. I am saving that link in my favorites. You do a lot of good work.

  34. #134
    On September 15th, 2009 at 11:59 am, DBNinKY said:

    Clarification: I just re-read the article – ACORN has indeed only received 53+MILLION in funding since 1994. They were, however, slated to receive an additional 8.5 BILLION in the next few years.

    I transposed the millions and billions.

    My apologies to Chap and anyone else I may inadvertently mislead.

  35. #135
    On September 15th, 2009 at 11:59 am, happyscrapper said:

    On September 15th, 2009 at 9:52 am, b-cat said:
    Anyone who thinks the numbering system sucks, raise your virtual hands!

    My hand is up!! Michelle…PLEASE don’t do this to us! I can’t find anything!! At least, could you tell us why the change? Not all change is good…right??

  36. #136
    On September 15th, 2009 at 12:00 pm, DBNinKY said:

    I just re-read the article

    The article (and blogs) I referenced as my sources.

  37. #137
    On September 15th, 2009 at 12:09 pm, Wayfaring Stranger said:

    On September 15th, 2009 at 11:40 am, stillontheroad said:

    With all this info coming out about this organization – Why not use RICO?

    I think that’s what the Brooklyn US Attorney’s Office is looking at; the press used the term “racketeering”, but that’s what the RICO statute is about.

  38. #138
    On September 15th, 2009 at 12:17 pm, DBNinKY said:

    (…)

    I may [have]inadvertently

    Sorry folks, for all the typos and faulty understandings/misinfo I’ve been posting but nothing has gone right for me today since I got out of bed this morning – the alarm radio wouldn’t shut off and woke everyone in the house at 5 AM, I was nearly run off the road by a semi on my way in, and now I’m seeing double with a sinus headache. Oh well – onward and upward…if I can make it!

  39. #139
    On September 15th, 2009 at 12:21 pm, happyscrapper said:

    On September 15th, 2009 at 12:17 pm, DBNinKY said:

    Having a bad day, are we?? Put it into perspective. Imagine the kind of day that Obama is having with his world coming apart on a daily basis! :smile: A bit of advice…stay away from machines today!

  40. #140
    On September 15th, 2009 at 12:33 pm, DBNinKY said:

    A bit of advice…stay away from machines today!

    Thanks, Happy, but I’m chained to the most dangerous machine of all for the next few hours – a computer!

  41. #141
    On September 15th, 2009 at 12:36 pm, Southpaw said:

    On September 15th, 2009 at 9:52 am, b-cat said:
    Anyone who thinks the numbering system sucks, raise your virtual hands!

    Makes it very hard to find where you were when you return to a thread.
    I have a conspiracy theory about why they changed it: To discourage monster threads.

  42. #142
    On September 15th, 2009 at 12:43 pm, happyscrapper said:

    On September 15th, 2009 at 12:36 pm, Southpaw said:
    Makes it very hard to find where you were when you return to a thread.
    I have a conspiracy theory about why they changed it: To discourage monster threads.

    So, you admit that you are a “monster thread truther”, huh? You should seek help.

  43. #143
    On September 15th, 2009 at 12:46 pm, happyscrapper said:

    On September 15th, 2009 at 12:33 pm, DBNinKY said:
    A bit of advice…stay away from machines today!
    Thanks, Happy, but I’m chained to the most dangerous machine of all for the next few hours – a computer!

    I remember my days in the office (been retired for two years). When I had a bad day with one “machine”, it just multiplied for the whole day. The printer would jam, the fax machine would jam, everything that could go wrong always seemed to happen in the same day. I finally realized that when I was having a day like that, I needed to go home, put my feet up and watch my favorite soap. That was a real sanity saver. Try it, you’ll like it.

  44. #144
    On September 15th, 2009 at 1:25 pm, Southpaw said:

    So, you admit that you are a “monster thread truther”, huh? You should seek help.

    I only posted a few times early on because I kept forgetting to go back to it. Michelle Malkin could publish a book based on that thread alone. Would be an interesting read.

  45. #145
    On September 15th, 2009 at 1:43 pm, purealchemy said:

    Glenn Beck is supposed to have a new exclusive ACORN video tonight that is even more scandalous than the pimp ones.

  46. #146
    On September 15th, 2009 at 1:46 pm, purealchemy said:

    On September 15th, 2009 at 11:40 am, stillontheroad said:
    With all this info coming out about this organization – Why not use RICO?

    Laura Ingraham said the same thing on her radio show this morning.

  47. #147
    On September 15th, 2009 at 2:07 pm, happyscrapper said:

    On September 15th, 2009 at 1:43 pm, purealchemy said:
    Glenn Beck is supposed to have a new exclusive ACORN video tonight that is even more scandalous than the pimp ones

    I heard that there are names being named. This gets better every day. I hope our undercover journalists have gone to a LOT of ACORN offices so they are loaded up with videos. No way will they ever get away with their scam again.

  48. #148
    On September 15th, 2009 at 2:38 pm, purealchemy said:

    This is Glenn Beck’s email for today:

    September 15, 2009

    On Today’s Program
    Worst Acorn video yet

    If you didn’t think ACORN could get any worse after several of their employees (in multiple locations) tried to help a prostitute buy a house, lie to the IRS and run a brothel with underage hookers from El Salvador…you were wrong. It gets much worse. In today’s tapes, this ACORN employee gives away the farm — she names names of politicians she talks to each day, plus what bills they are lobbying heavily for (with taxpayer money). Oh, this Acorn employee is also a former hooker herself, who (in this audio tape) admits to killing her abusive husband. Your tax dollars hard at work! ( Transcript, Insider Audio)

    Maryland ACORN update: Those 2 dirt-bag Acorn employees were fired, but will anyone investigate the incident? The answer is yes — but sadly, the only thing the attorneys in Maryland see wrong is how the video was illegally recorded. REPORT

    Media negligence on ACORN

    Andrew Breitbart from Breitbart.com joined Glenn to talk more about the media negligence on this ACORN story. How is it possible the media can largely ignore a story that has sex, scandal AND the video? Glenn showed the scoreboard on TV this week showing the coverage where Fox News is hitting the story and pretty much no one else is bothering to cover it. Not only that, it took a 20 year old girl and a 25 year old guy to uncover this scandal. Where is the mainstream media? Listen to the interview with the man who posed as the pimp — and with the man who posted the videos. ( Transcript, Insider Audio)

    Watch the full undercover video HERE. PLUS — Glenn played the audio just at the end of the show – Charlie Gibson admitting he had NO IDEA what the ACORN story even was…

You must be logged in to post a comment.


Two important Secretary of State wins for GOP

November 2, 2010 11:38 PM by Michelle Malkin

12 Comments

ACORN’s latest target

October 6, 2010 01:52 PM by Michelle Malkin

40 Comments

ACORN Watch: New HUD IG report details counseling grant scams

September 23, 2010 01:54 PM by Michelle Malkin

20 Comments

ACORN funding ban upheld by 2nd Circuit

August 13, 2010 04:10 PM by Michelle Malkin

31 Comments

Employee Told FBI ACORN Works for Democrats

June 11, 2010 08:06 AM by La Shawn Barber

30 Comments

Redundant, really.

2nd Circuit restores ACORN funding ban

April 21, 2010 02:01 PM by Michelle Malkin

47 Comments

ACORN to Shut Down on April Fool’s Day

March 24, 2010 10:10 AM by La Shawn Barber

29 Comments


Categories: ACORN Watch

Follow me on Twitter Follow me on Facebook