How Barney Frank Is Spending Your Hard Earned Tax Dollars…
By Rabble Rouser Reverend Amy on May 9, 2009 at 10:35 AM in ACORN, Barney Frank, Current Affairs
Here’s a hint - it’s a type of nut. Yep, you got it - Barney Frank is hellbent on giving ACORN* a big ol’ chunk of your change. Oh, they have already gotten a pretty decent amount, an astronomical amount by non-profit standards. Are you sitting down? To date, since 1994, ACORN has received $53 MILLION dollars from the Federal Government.
Oh, but that pales in comparison to what Frank wants to give them now. You may want to lie down for this one. Ready? Barney Frank wants to give ACORN, currently under FEDERAL investigation in Nevada, as well as being investigated in a number of states across the country (including SC), $8.5 BILLION dollars. You read that right - I said BILLION.
Oh, how I wish I was making this up. I used to live in Massachusetts, and was proud that we had one of the first out gay members of Congress. He seemed, at that time, to care about the people. Well, that was a long time ago, I’m afraid. Well, unless the people work for ACORN, that is:
At least $53 million in federal funds have gone to ACORN activists since 1994, and the controversial group could get up to $8.5 billion more tax dollars despite being under investigation for voter registration fraud in a dozen states.The economic stimulus bill enacted in February contains $3 billion that the non-profit activist group known more formally as the Association for Community Organizations for Reform Now could receive, and 2010 federal budget contains another $5.5 billion that could also find its way into the group’s coffers.
An Examiner review of federal spending data found that ACORN has received at least $53 million in federal money since 1994. A downloadable spreadsheet of the $53 million is posted on washingtonexaminer.com.
Scott Levenson, ACORN’s national spokesman, said “we have received no significant federal funding.” When asked by The Examiner about the $53 million, Levenson said: “If you listen to some of the Republicans who are going to get a billion dollars from the stimulus package, I’m still waiting for my share. Their claims are overinflated, this is a gimmick and an attempt to demonize ACORN.”
At least one lawmaker, Rep. Michelle Bachmann, R-MN, wants to stop the flow of tax dollars to ACORN, but House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank, D-MA, stands in her way.
Frank plans to strip out an anti-ACORN provision Bachman succeeded in inserting in the proposed Mortgage Reform and Anti-Predatory Lending Act that could be voted on by the House today or Thursday.
Bahmann’s amendment was unanimously approved by Frank’s committee in a voice vote last week. It would block organizations that have been indicted for voter registration or vote fraud from receiving housing counseling grants and legal assistance grants.
Well, thank heavens SOMEONE is paying attention to what Congress is doing with our money. It is a bit of a surprise that it was passed unanimously, but yay!! Oh, wait. Not so fast:
The Bachman prohibition would apply only to the proposed mortgage reform legislation, and would not change ACORN’s ability to receive funds under either the stimulus program or 2010 budget.
Um, what?? And WHY?? Oh, but it gets better:
Frank said his panel’s approval of the Bachman amendment was a mistake and that he had not carefully reviewed its language when he previously voted yes.“I did not read it carefully, and it was in the last minute that the amendment was accepted,” Frank said. “It is a deeply flawed amendment and I am opposed to it. Banning people from possible participation in government programs based on an indictment is a violation of the basic principles of due process.”
Frank plans to offer another amendment to the bill on the House floor that would allow non-profits that have been indicted to receive grants under the legislation so long as they have not been convicted.
Bachmann said Frank’s amendment would “eviscerate the meaning” of her original amendment.
“I am disturbed by how cavalierly Washington spends the taxpayers’ money,” Bachmann told The Examiner. “The new charges brought against ACORN this week in Nevada reaffirm my concern about giving taxpayer dollars to organizations that are repeatedly under criminal indictment. Last week, I asked: Whose side are we on, the taxpayer’s or ACORN’s?”
Clearly, she has answered her own question. Barney Frank stands with ACORN, an alleged non-partisan non-profit organization that engages in VERY partisan political action, especially on behalf of Obama and Democrats in general. That’s fine for a for-profit organization, or a political PAC, but NOT an organization that operates as a “non-partisan” organization, having access to OUR tax-paying dollars:
Non-profit groups like ACORN can apply for $2 billion in funds set aside for the redevelopment of abandoned and foreclosed homes under the $800 billion economic stimulus bill passed earlier this year.An additional $1 billion in Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) are included in the stimulus bill. ACORN and other non-profit advocacy groups could receive through federally funded housing programs administered by state and local governments.
“ACORN is not normally eligible to apply directly for CDBG funds but may apply to the states and local government units that are CDBG recipients,” Matthew Vadum, a senior analyst and editor with Capital Research Center (CRC), said. “This opens the way for ACORN to receive billions more in taxpayer money.”
In addition to the $3 billion available in the stimulus package, the proposed $47.5 billion Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) budget provides $1 billion for an affordable housing trust fund and $4.5 billion in CDBG funds that could be funneled to ACORN indirectly.
“This means $8.5 billion is on the table this year for ACORN and other left-wing advocacy groups,” Vadum said. “ACORN won’t get all of the money but any tax dollars going to a criminal enterprise like this is just wrong.” (Kevin Mooney is an Examiner staff writer on the commentary staff.)
Your damn right it’s wrong. I think Thomas Jefferson summed it up pretty well:
To compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical.
Amen to that - I am pretty sure he would consider taking taxpayer dollars, A LOT of them, to support an organization that is not only partisan, but engages in questionable, often illegal tactics, would qualify as abhorrent and sinful. I know I do. How about you?
* Again, as a disclaimer, I did work for ACORN some time ago as a canvasser.
(Release: November 13)
on sale for only $16.95.
has a spatula.)
And check out these: 
("This crazy redhead is on to something. Her pink Rambler story alone is worth the price of the book," writes 
- “Richard Sale’s reportage on Washington, the CIA, the American armed forces, and foreign intrigue has created a perfect background for this account of the steady growth of President Clinton as a master of the game of nations.”--W. Patrick Lang, former head of Middle East Operations, DIA
"Anne C. Heller's stunning biography of Ayn Rand" uses a "plethora of newly unearthed research and fresh insight."
Why don`t we send representatives of Acorn to China to pick up the money directly?
It’s about time we go in mass to Washington,DC and let this corrupt Congress that we will not stop until Acorn and our corrupt Congress are all put in prison.
What have we become?!?!? I do not recognize this country.
R3A, I will be forwarding this post to local media outlets. Surely someone in the Boston market will pick up on this story…
You know, it’s so funny; some of us were once so ‘left of center’ that our vote for a candidate was at least in part based on the fact, he was gay or black. And yet our informed rejection of BO and Frank now subjects us to accusations of being Republicans by people mistakenly assuming our allegiance to the Party they (wrongly) identify as racist and homophobic.
Thank you, jbjd.
And you are exactly right. I was, as I have often said, clinging to the far LEFT corner of the DNP, a “yellow dawg Democrat,” as we say down South. Not now - now the scales have fallen from my eyes and I am looking closer, and with clearer vision, at what these people are doing with our money, and with our country.
As Sonic said above, I don’t recognize this country, either. How did we get here???
And Joy, I am all for a march on Washington. Sign me up!
I WILL DONATE TO UNSEAT BARNEY FRANK.
I DON’T CARE IF A DEMOCRAT WON’T CHALLENGE THIS CRIMINAL. IF A RePUBLICAN CHALLENGES FRANK, THEY HAVE MY MONEY.
By the way, is it the Democrats that gave us the term RATS in Government?
Now, on this, Michelle Bachman’s passed the committee and only after it passed, apparently Barney Frank was learning of the upcoming investigations and criminal filings at that time, he came up to Rep Bachman to express opposition and that he wanted to change her PASSED amendment. He cannot choose like an Emporer to just take it out, correct?
What, Barney Frank wants to just propose an ADDITIONAL BILL to Counter the Bachman amendment,, so it’s meaningless? That means the committee has to approve that, right?
Oh, I want to see people stand with Barney Frank, publicly and say “oh yes, we want to give tax dollars to organization that are criminal”. Yes, Barney Frank may have no decency or soul or non corrupt bone in his body, but does all others want to stand with HIM??????
I guess this was Ms Bachman’s first successful attempt to stop our tax dollars from reaching these illegal actions, but it surely needs to go further. But being they have managed to put in the mortage act this area ACORN gets money, it sure is a good place to stop it from happening.
AGAIN, I RE ITERATE….FIND A DEMOCRAT TO CHALLENGE THIS DISGUSTING BARNEY FRANK, OR I PROMISE, MANY PEOPLE WILL BE FUNDING HIS REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER, if he isn’t charged with criminal activity before then.
“How Barney Frank Is Spending Your Hard-Earned Tax Dollars”–But Reverend Amy, we don’t have any hard-earned tax dollars left to spend. I mean, these ACORN guys have a nice name and everything, cuz from the little acorn the mighty oak grows, etc., but folks, the party is really over and it’s time to think about cleaning up the mess. Our credit cards were maxed out a long time ago.
All the booze is gone . . . the bright sun will be shining in the window, and all we will hear is groans . . .
I will donate to unseat Barney Frank.
I don’t care if a Democxrat won’t challeng his criminal. If a Republican challenges him, they have my money.
By the way, is it the Democrats that gave us the term rats in Government?
Now, on this, Michelle Bachman’s passed the committee and only after it passed, apparently Barney Frank was learning of the upcoming investigations and criminal filings at that time, he came up to Rep Bachman to express opposition and that he wanted to change her PASSED amendment. He cannot choose like an Emporer to just take it out, correct?
What, Barney Frank wants to just propose an ADDITIONAL BILL to Counter the Bachman amendment,, so it’s meaningless? That means the committee has to approve that, right?
Oh, I want to see people stand with Barney Frank, publicly and say “oh yes, we want to give tax dollars to organization that are criminal”. Yes, Barney Frank may have no decency or soul or non corrupt bone in his body, but does all others want to stand with HIM??????
I guess this was Ms Bachman’s first successful attempt to stop our tax dollars from reaching these illegal actions, but it surely needs to go further. But being they have managed to put in the mortage act this area ACORN gets money, it sure is a good place to stop it from happening.
Again, I reiterate. Find a Democrat to challenge Barney Frank, or I prompise, many people, including myself, will be funding his Republican challenger, if he isn’t criminally charged before then.
I will donate to unseat Barney Frank.
I don’t care if a Democxrat won’t challeng his criminal. If a Republican challenges him, they have my money.
By the way, is it the Democrats that gave us the term rats in Government?
Now, on this, Michelle Bachman’s passed the committee and only after it passed, apparently Barney Frank was learning of the upcoming investigations and criminal filings at that time, he came up to Rep Bachman to express opposition and that he wanted to change her PASSED amendment. He cannot choose like an Emporer to just take it out, correct?
What, Barney Frank wants to just propose an ADDITIONAL BILL to Counter the Bachman amendment,, so it’s meaningless? That means the committee has to approve that, right?
Oh, I want to see people stand with Barney Frank, publicly and say “oh yes, we want to give tax dollars to organization that are criminal”. Yes, Barney Frank may have no decency or soul or non corrupt bone in his body, but does all others want to stand with HIM??????
I guess this was Ms Bachman’s first successful attempt to stop our tax dollars from reaching these illegal actions, but it surely needs to go further. But being they have managed to put in the mortage act this area ACORN gets money, it sure is a good place to stop it from happening.
Again, I reiterate. Find a Democrat to challenge Barney Frank, or I prompise, many people, including myself, will be funding his Republican challenger, if he isn’t criminally charged before then.
Please free my comment stuck in the spam filter.
…and warning, it wasn’t responding, like it accepted my comment, so I tried re entering it…it still didn’t do anything, so I tried going in IE.
there may be a few there, sorry.
I’m powering down to see if my laptop is doing something freaky and causing this.
Here is an excerpt from an article I posted below on LJ’s ‘Republican’ article. (This is really a great article, pointing to the total destruction of the Constitutional principle of governmental separation of powers.)
I just ‘posted’ a comment that got lost, too.
Barney Frank wants to give our money to a organization that promotes voter fraud and bad morgages that helped cause the financial meltdown in this country.
John Kerry wants to make newspapers tax exempt when there is not enough money to pay the debts of this country and journalists have become prostitutes instead of investigators.
Have the elected officials of Mass been drinking the Harbor Water again.
The sad thing is it is not just Mass officials it seems to be elected officials in every state who would hurt the American people before they would help them.
WOMEN WITH INTELLIGENCE AND EXPERIENCE,MEN WHO SUPPORT THEM AND COUNTRY BEFORE PARTY ALWAYS
PUMAS,BUBBAS,EQUALISTS AND THOSE PEOPLE RULE
Just hearing the acronym ACORN makes me want to scream. This organization is run by a bunch of criminals, and I would love to see them all jailed. It makes me sick that they get taxpayer money so that they can continue to operate.
I agree with JOY, count me in. It’s time to awake the sleep walking politicians. America, is our Country TOO.
billions for acorn but no cost of living increase for seniors and those on disability until 2013??!!! WTF!!!THIS IS A DISGRACE. where is aarp on this? we need to get rid of all those entrenched , corrupt politicians from both sides and start with some fresh new faces with no grudges to settle. frank, dodd and reid first.
So the change we get to see…
The fund benefiting families of slain police officers is cut almost in half. While they find creative ways to funnel billions to one of the most corrupt organizations in American history.
Whats next?!?
Maybe we can set up adoption services for pedophiles…
Gym memberships for wife beaters, so they can really do it next time. Or best yet…body waxes and free condoms for rapists to make sure they don’t leave any DNA behind.
Acorn helped cause the financial melt down.
they have got to be stopped.
[...] ntra-net.com placed an interesting blog post on How Barney Frank Is Spending Your Hard Earned Tax Dollarsâ [...]
I would like to see citizens picket Acorn offices, the same way they protested on tax day. Citizens against fraud.
[...] but most recently based on Chris Hedges’ EXCELLENT article, “Obama As A Brand.” Barney Frank has turned from being a representative of the people to being ACORN’s representative. Nancy [...]
[...] the reason the intrepid reporter was trying to get Frank to comment on investigating ACORN was Frank’s attempts to funnel BILLIONS - that’s not a typo - BILLIONS of your tax-paying dollars to ACORN. Uh, [...]
Cyber Pet Adoption…
Intriguing idea, but I don’t know if I believe you one hundred percent….
[...] your tax paying dollars hard at work, courtesy of Barney Frank, Barack Obama, and the [...]