October 07, 2009 12:04 AM UTC

Markey urges ACORN defunding, but plans to vote against the bill that would include it

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• by: BobMoore

(Sheesh, show ONE pimp how to beat the high cost of living and… – promoted by Colorado Pols)

Rep. Betsy Markey and a fellow Democratic House freshman are pushing to block federal funding for Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, the controversial group better known as ACORN. But Markey will vote against the bill that she wants the anti-ACORN funding language included in.

For a full explanation of how Markey is pushing for ACORN defunding on the one hand while planning to ultimately vote against it, see my Coloradoan blog: https://bit.ly/4DzIP

Markey and Idaho Rep. Walt Minnick sent a letter Tuesday on the upcoming conference committee discussion to resolve differences in the Senate and House versions of the 2010 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. The letter was signed by 35 other Democratic members of Congress; Markey was the only one of the five Colorado Democratic House members to sign the letter.

Here’s the full text of the letter:

September 29, 2009

The Honorable John Olver

Chairman

Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies

Room 2358-A Rayburn House Office Building

Washington, DC 20515

The Honorable Tom Latham

Ranking Member

Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies

1016 Longworth House Office Building

Washington, DC 20515

Dear Chairman Olver and Ranking Member Latham:

We are writing to express our support for language included by the Senate in the FY 2010 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act regarding the eligibility of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN).  On September 14, the Senate passed an amendment with bipartisan support by a vote of 83 to 7 to prohibit ACORN from being eligible for any funds under the bill.

We are deeply troubled by the video obtained of ACORN employees offering to falsify tax documents and help obtain a mortgage for individuals purporting to be engaged in prostitution.  Such actions should disqualify ACORN from receiving taxpayer-funded HUD grants.

The recent bipartisan support in the House for a federal ban on funding for ACORN in The Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act is an important step towards fiscal responsibility and more accountability of taxpayer dollars.  Organizations that receive federal funding should be held to the highest ethical and legal standards.

As you move towards conference, we ask that you maintain this language in the final conference report. Thank you for your consideration of this request and for your attention to this issue.

Sincerely,

Walt Minnick                                      

Member of Congress

Betsy Markey

Member of Congress