Don't worry about ACORN. Federal funds are still being awarded to the disgraced organization.
From the Washington Times:
Nearly $1 million in Homeland Security funding typically earmarked for fire departments has been awarded to ACORN, despite a clear signal from Congress that it intends to cut off federal funding to the embattled group.
The grant to ACORN's Louisiana office became public on Oct. 2, less than three weeks after the House and Senate voted to cut off ACORN funding after employees were caught on video advising a fake prostitute and pimp on scams.
It was one of only three such grants issued to the state and made up almost 80 percent of the firefighting money earmarked for Louisiana, prompting one of the U.S. senators from the state to demand that the funds be taken back.
"I request that you rescind this grant based on a history of abuse of federal dollars by ACORN and their clear lack of expertise in this area," said Sen. David Vitter, Louisiana Republican.
The group has headquarters in Louisiana.
When asked how the money would be spent, ACORN spokesman Brian Kettenring issued a statement criticizing the senator, who confessed in the past to having used an escort service.
"Senator Vitter knows a lot more about prostitution rings than anyone here does, so we'll defer to him on any matters pertaining to the videos attacking ACORN," the statement read. It did not explain how the group plans to spend the Federal Emergency Management Agency grant.
Mr. Vitter, who was routinely notified of the grant before it became public, sent his letter to Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano on Sept. 22, saying the money should be given "to a more deserving group of first responders."
One such group might have been the St. Tammany Parish Fire District No. 3, which applied for a $120,000 grant to purchase smoke alarms for low-income families after a January fire killed four children in a home that had no working detectors.
..."I have no problem with not getting a grant, I've lost grants before," said Chief Flynn, one of the fire officials who complained to Mr. Vitter in a letter.
"My issue is ACORN in New Orleans. Their mission statement says nothing about fire safety or fire prevention. It bothered me that ACORN got $1 million and there are so many smaller and bigger departments that have a need for that money."
...This is the second year ACORN has been awarded the fire prevention and safety grant. In the 2007 fiscal year, ACORN received $450,484 out of Louisiana's $859,596 share.
This is crazy.
ACORN should not be getting nearly $1 million in Homeland Security funds while the fire departments are snubbed.
Vitter is absolutely right. Based on ACORN's history of abuse of federal funds and its lack of expertise in fire safety and prevention, it makes no sense to award the grant to this corrupt group.
When asked to comment, how does ACORN respond to Vitter's legitimate concerns and those of his constituents?
Instead of making the case for the organization's use of the money -- ACORN has not explained how it plans to spend the Federal Emergency Management Agency grant -- ACORN spokesman Brian Kettenring attacks Vitter.
"Senator Vitter knows a lot more about prostitution rings than anyone here does, so we'll defer to him on any matters pertaining to the videos attacking ACORN."
What a cheap shot!
Why would the U.S. government just hand over $1 million to ACORN rather than to fire departments? For what? ACORN hasn't said. Where's the accountability?
There is none.
This is a blatant misuse of federal funds. Although this particular battle is in New Orleans, this is our money. All American taxpayers should be as outraged about this as citizens in Louisiana.
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