Breaking: House votes to suspend payments to ACORN
posted at 2:58 pm on September 17, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
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The fallout continues from the undercover videos taken at ACORN offices across the country. The House has followed the lead of the Senate in voting to cut off funds to ACORN, this time in the Student Loans Bill. The final vote was a solidly bipartisan 345-75.
How many newspapers will carry this story tomorrow? How many won’t?
The other story in this vote is the fact that the US has more or less nationalized the student-loan industry:
The biggest change in U.S. higher education finance in 35 years was approved on Thursday by the House of Representatives, handing a defeat to major banks and student loan giant Sallie Mae.
Lawmakers voted 253-171 in favor of legislation that would cut the banks and Sallie Mae out of a large slice of the $92 billion college student loan business, shifting most lending into a program run by the U.S. Education Department.
The bill, supported by the White House, will go next to the Senate for further consideration.
Think of it as single-payer for student loans. It’s a potential disaster. We’ll have more on this when it moves into the Senate.
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There’s practically no reason to imagine that the senate would defeat this bill. Not on its merits and certainly not because of the ACORN funding amendment (which the Senate already voted 83-7 for). Sallie Mae is already accomplishing much of what this bill plans to expand and the GI Bill goes beyond even that with its coverage of college tuition for veterans.
But perhaps most importantly for this Fall session we have quite possibly the most perfect poison pill Republicans could have hoped for:
Here at last is the bipartisanship Obama promised during the campaign–with 172 democrats joining 173 republicans–and what does he get?
This bill will land on Barack Hussein Obama’s desk and he will stand before the American people and either choose to protect the interests of a hyper-partisan criminal organization or to relieve the financial burdens of America’s struggling college students. One or the other, not both.
Khorum on September 17, 2009 at 4:14 PM
Proof that the Democrats goals for public schools are successful.
oceansidecon on September 17, 2009 at 4:14 PM
Don’t know if this has been mention, but there is not a word about this over on CNN’s website. They mention the student loan thingy, but no mention of the ACORN cutoff.
Knucklehead on September 17, 2009 at 4:15 PM
they voted against the stu loan bill and for the ACORN amendment they did their job today the GOP in the House let’s give em a round of applesauce :)
ginaswo on September 17, 2009 at 4:15 PM
ACORN is specifically named in the amendment.
Enoxo on September 17, 2009 at 4:17 PM
The “Defund ACORN Act” was amended to HR3221, the full text is available at:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/19855526/HOUSE-VOTES-TO-DEFUND-ACORN
Khorum on September 17, 2009 at 4:17 PM
If you have an update I’d like to see it. My text has ACORN specifically mentioned in the definitions as an “organization”. But that is still qualified in the text by the adjective “indicted”. Let me know where I’m wrong because you might have an updated version.
LevStrauss on September 17, 2009 at 4:20 PM
Thanks, but that’s not mentioned over at the Communist News Network either. But then again, I haven’t seen a thing about the ACORN stuff over there.
Knucklehead on September 17, 2009 at 4:23 PM
Here, at Big Government.
Enoxo on September 17, 2009 at 4:30 PM
Enoxo on September 17, 2009 at 4:30 PM
Yeah I am matching up the wording with the definitions and it looks as though indictment is still the trigger. Have they ever been indicted for anything?
LevStrauss on September 17, 2009 at 4:33 PM
[Khorum on September 17, 2009 at 4:17 PM]
Thnanks. And wow, it also defunds any organization that has directors that also sit on ACORN Boards, etc. This amendment is really a scorched earth provision.
Dusty on September 17, 2009 at 4:33 PM
More importantly, why are you worrying about Blackwater when Obama himself clearly ISN’T. Blackwater (or Xsi) has done some reprehensible things that would be impossible for the GOP to defend, but that obviously didnt keep Obama from extending their contract.
Unless someone comes up with some Giles/O’keefe style videos of Xsi waterboarding iraqi schoolkids, Obama’s already made it clear that his distaste for Blackwater is about as earnest as his distaste for Gitmo and Bush’s security practices.
Khorum on September 17, 2009 at 4:34 PM
Further, a note from Senator Johanns:
Enoxo on September 17, 2009 at 4:34 PM
Khorum on September 17, 2009 at 4:34 PM
Because when these allegations first came out against ACORN the common comback was to single out Blackwater. I am not a fan of blackwater, just going by the common utterances I am finding in the political dialogue.
LevStrauss on September 17, 2009 at 4:38 PM
Hmmm… no money for office rent, or phones, or cable-tv, or printing & copiers, or …
.
‘Termination Fees’ should make tasty icing on the cakes.
CNN/Wolf now reporting the vote & blaming it all on those sleazy video makers.
/.
CaveatEmpty on September 17, 2009 at 4:42 PM
Does Nancy Pelosi weep for this Obama protestor ?
William Amos on September 17, 2009 at 4:58 PM
Look at that vote count again and you will notice there are 2 names missing from the 435 total they have in the House. I was able to find one name very quick but don’t know who the other is.
So I have a question after looking at the list.
Where was Queen Pelosi when this vote took place?
JeffinSac on September 17, 2009 at 5:15 PM
What this means is that Project vote or Moveon or some other leftie GOTV group is going to be added to the government doles. The GOP better not be asleep (Wishful thinking that)
William Amos on September 17, 2009 at 5:16 PM
Different bill from the senate so…it goes to cnference where the weasels can plug the funding back in, quiety and secretly…
JIMV on September 17, 2009 at 5:17 PM
Nancy Pelosi seeks to run out the clock for acorn
William Amos on September 17, 2009 at 5:20 PM
It’s a typical these-voters-are-such-rubes stunt; the “House and Senate voted to defund ACORN on different bills.
The Senate bill is a housing bill, the House bill the federal takeover of student loans. Each bill will wind up in conference committee where the ACORN ban can be quietly stripped out, behind closed doors and secure from prying eyes. Then the org can keep on doing its important work of voter fraud and pandering to presumed pedophiles.
The most useful principle to hold close when considering members of Congress: they’re all crooks.”
From instapundit.
I agree. We need a third party. Why didn’t they do this before? Repubs and Dems are the same, it’s all about fed power and keeping the tax money flowing.
Give me a third party.
joshlbetts on September 17, 2009 at 5:20 PM
Does this include funding for Planned Parenthood?
truetexan on September 17, 2009 at 5:23 PM
Charlie Gibson: “Defunding a corn?”
Jim Treacher on September 17, 2009 at 5:36 PM
He continued “that’s nothing, in a field of such rich bounty”.
Schadenfreude on September 17, 2009 at 5:43 PM
So now Obama can veto the bill. If he uses the sick math he applies to jobs forecasting and unemployment growth, he can’t figger out if this is a veto proof 2/3rds or not.
seven on September 17, 2009 at 5:46 PM
Jerrold Nadler. “Blocking funds to ACORN is unconstitutional
William Amos on September 17, 2009 at 5:49 PM
Howie Carr is having a field day beating the crap out of the 8 MA Reps who voted to continue to fund ACORN.
TheBigOldDog on September 17, 2009 at 5:59 PM
Virginia Foxx was on WPTF here in Raleigh. She said it was ploy vote by the democrats. She expects the de-funding to be pulled in conference committee…which means no amendments can be added. It’s an up or down vote.
SouthernGent on September 17, 2009 at 6:13 PM
Comedy Gold: Special Report just noted that Bertha Lewis and the CA congressman that led the push to defund ACORN will be on Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace.
This could get ugly.
BuckeyeSam on September 17, 2009 at 6:17 PM
Trolls are mysteriously absent from Acorn threads
Things that make you go hmmmmmmmmm
CWforFreedom on September 17, 2009 at 6:28 PM
Having a hissy fit in her office.
DSchoen on September 17, 2009 at 6:44 PM
Where the hell did this come from?? I guess they learned their lesson with healthcare so now we only get to hear about bills after they pass.
Onus on September 17, 2009 at 6:54 PM
Beraking: Jindal signs executive order cutting all funding to NOLA ACORN.
Christien on September 17, 2009 at 6:58 PM
I don’t think those dolts at ACORN could even spell I.Q. if you spotted them the first two letters.
anniekc on September 17, 2009 at 7:00 PM
Here’s the link.
Christien on September 17, 2009 at 7:02 PM
Statewide, not just NOLA HQ.
Christien on September 17, 2009 at 7:06 PM
Interesting, but I hade to correct some things for the NYT
This needs help.
Only 5 out of 28 AHC Acorn offices nation wide, have been stung in the sting, however we do not know how many more tapes are out there.
The plan seems to be release a tape, wait for the response and excuse from Acorn and their allies and then release another tape that puts a lie to the last excuse.
Acorn claims to have reported the conservative imposters to local police, but to date not a single police report has been found or released to the public that supports Acorns claim, that they reported these to the local police .
Apparently Acorn wants us to believe that local police departments, nation wide, do not fill out police reports.
Perhaps this explains why, in Acorns fantasy, world out jails and prisons are empty.
DSchoen on September 17, 2009 at 7:10 PM
Opps typo
“Perhaps this explains why, in Acorns fantasy world, our jails and prisons are empty.
DSchoen on September 17, 2009 at 7:11 PM
So if a member of La Raza sits on a Board for ACORN, does that mean that La Raza’s funding also gets cut…?
….. Oh please, please, please, please!
Seven Percent Solution on September 17, 2009 at 7:22 PM
Bertha Lewis, This could get ugly.
Unless Bertha’s doing the perp walk by then.
DSchoen on September 17, 2009 at 7:26 PM
Obama’s quest to own you from birth to college graduation and beyond continues apace.
PattyJ on September 17, 2009 at 7:28 PM
My Congressman was one of the 75 who voted to keep ACORN funding. I’ve e-mailed him and asked him very politely why he’s in favor of using federal funds on organizations that would abet the human trafficking of underage girls.
highhopes on September 17, 2009 at 7:32 PM
Great! I was living in NOLA from a few months after Katrina until last year. I saw firsthand how truly evil this organization is. I’ll be glad if they lose their funding left and right until they go out of business and all those employees are left jobless.
highhopes on September 17, 2009 at 7:35 PM
highhopes,
Since New Orleans is the national headquarters for ACORN, it might look bad if armed agents raid their offices. We’ll see how this goes down.
Christien on September 17, 2009 at 7:40 PM
Double digits? I think you’re being kind.
Jeff from WI on September 17, 2009 at 7:47 PM
Damn, there goes another 400,000 jobs! That’ll make it 10% unemployment for sure!
Heh.
2ipa on September 17, 2009 at 7:50 PM
ACORN is going to need to tighten their ship up a little. Create ACORN Security details for all their offices, or something like that, to frisk everyone first before they enter. Then make them snort coke and perform sex acts on camera before receiving illegal tax help. That should keep the rif-raf away while drawing more business at the same time.
JellyToast on September 17, 2009 at 7:52 PM
All of your kids belong to Uncle Big Government now. Want a college loan? Then get out and rock the vote, organize your communities for green energy, adopt a gitmo pen pal.. who needs ACORN?
TN Mom on September 17, 2009 at 7:53 PM
Does anyone know who voted yea and nay?
Upstater85 on September 17, 2009 at 8:00 PM
Hanna speaks out
William Amos on September 17, 2009 at 8:05 PM
The Randian implications described in Atlas Shrugged seems to be precisely where the progressives wish to take us. They are seizing the means to ideologically dole out taxpayers money to only those that they favor.
Do you think for one minute that if I a white male, clad in a Reagan ‘84 t-shirt and adorned with a McCain ‘08 button, upon walking into an ACORN office woul be accorded the munificence of ACORN’s sage tax advice and assistance? Somehow I gather not.
Now imagine the same class of employees processing student application forms. Higher Ed already does this through their own special weeding process, they discrimnate through grades. As an undergrad you have to strive for limited funding for gradschool scholarships, grants and the like. If your GPA isn’t in the top rank, you haven’t chance unless you can self fund. Ultra liberal profs know this, and trust they weild grades as a cudgel.
I recently went back to grad school and found marked difference in grading upon one’s slant in depicting view points. To advance I had to write leftist odes to freakin Che and in class profess committment to ideals contrary to any sane person’s. That is the price of admission, if you have kids soon going to college, advise accordingly or you are throwing money down the toilet.
As the collectivists manage to take over moer and more of our economy and services, be prepared to endure 2nd class status, or pay lip service to their ideology. Once they own it, they own it. whether it’s your taxes that paid for it or not.
They say Atlas is coming to the big screen maybe next year. It’ll be a re-run, I am watching it right now on my TV every day!
Archimedes on September 17, 2009 at 8:07 PM
Now, THAT, I would pay to see…..
I think GB is right, though. There will be hearings, investigations, maybe even some low level arrests…..but acorn will just move on to another name and the same game.
HornetSting on September 17, 2009 at 8:09 PM
Full house vote on ACORN defunding
William Amos on September 17, 2009 at 8:10 PM
Rep Tammy Baldwin (D) Wisconsin was one of the 75 democrats who voted “No”.
Here’s the link to see how they all voted:
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2009/roll718.xml
Wendy on September 17, 2009 at 8:11 PM
CNN reporting that FBI Director looking into criminal probe of ACORN !
William Amos on September 17, 2009 at 8:21 PM
So now the people at the head of ACORN will scurry like cockroaches until they can regroup under a new name.
Mangy Scot on September 17, 2009 at 8:31 PM
Miami Herald Hey lets smear Hanna Giles father”
William Amos on September 17, 2009 at 8:34 PM
Seven Percent Solution on September 17, 2009 at 7:22 PM
You can read the document at biggovt.com. In part it says “any orgnizations that shares directors, employees, or independent contractors with ACORN.”
That is on page 3 or 4.
milwife88 on September 17, 2009 at 8:50 PM
sorry the cynic in me just says – distraction – and AVOIDANCE OF SHOWING THE BOOKS.
I want to see the money.
SHOW ME THE MONEY CONGRESS. WHERE DID IT GO?
seesalrun on September 17, 2009 at 9:20 PM
ACORN’s chief executive officer says that the group gets most of its money from members and other supporters and that its operations would continue even if it is cut off from government grants.
This begs the obvious question. WHY THE HELL ARE WE GIVING THEM MONEY THEN?
Archimedes on September 17, 2009 at 9:23 PM
If you close your eyes and listen real hard, you can hear ACORN shredders running all over the country.
justltl on September 17, 2009 at 9:27 PM
Too late
http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/59685072.html
William Amos on September 17, 2009 at 9:35 PM
USA Today actually had a story, as did AP. Does that mean that it’s actually a story now?
flytier on September 17, 2009 at 9:38 PM
OK,enough on ACORN.
This blog has jumped the shark.
AnninCA on September 17, 2009 at 10:51 PM
They will just dissolve and re-constitute themselves as another organization. Just like the old Dilbert, “I can assure you this organization has a totally different name”. I can see ACORN disincorporating and a new organization being formed by the same principals:
OAK TREE:Organizing And Keeping True Racial Equity Excellence
or something like that
AZfederalist on September 17, 2009 at 10:54 PM
“Nhahni Nahnah, Hey Hey…”
Oh, butcha know we nub u.
OkieDoc on September 18, 2009 at 12:27 AM
You mean NO MONEY!!? No money to help hookers, pimps, or illegal underage ladies of the evening find homes and register to vote?
You can’t be so cruel as to stop helping these people!
Jeff from WI on September 18, 2009 at 7:18 AM
ACORN claims they get most of their $ from donations.
Is it time to boycott anyone who gives $ to ACORN?
Jeff from WI on September 18, 2009 at 7:23 AM
When the Soviet Union broke apart, everyone thought that things had really changed, but all the Communists, Socialists and Fellow Travelers were still there and they just reorganized in order to continue their control.
Like so, ACORN is a complex far reaching organization that will just change it’s name, shuffle the pea under a few more cups, and continue to get your tax money as before.
Uniblogger on September 18, 2009 at 9:36 AM
The media has been hilariously quiet about the ACORN story, but I think they just hate admitting that Fox bested them.
I like the federal guarantee student loan programs. We had it before, and it was much better than the privatized version, which has led to way too many stories of kickbacks to campuses.
AnninCA on September 18, 2009 at 9:40 AM
Have you seen Juan’s tearfully response to the video? before he was fired…………
http://speakmymindblog.com/2009/09/18/acorn-san-diego-standing-by-juan-nope/
sherryande on September 18, 2009 at 12:44 PM
What no one is saying is that the House Res to Defund ACORN was proposed by Boehner.
Boehner: Measure to Defund ACORN Shouldn’t Be Held Hostage to Gov’t Takeover of Student Loans
GOP Leader Calls on Speaker Pelosi to Schedule Immediate Vote on the Defund ACORN Act as a Separate, Stand-Alone Bill.
The speaker creature tacked on the student loan bill to get some votes.
Blacksmith8 on September 18, 2009 at 6:16 PM
Gee, the San Bernadino transcript was an intersting read, what with Tresa telling O’Keefe that ACORN wouldn’t help them and that she knew she was being set up.
O’Keefe’s angle with with the underage girls was that they were in an abusive environment where they were beaten and not being given food, and at first Tresa believes that “Eden” is trying to give them a better quality of life. When she finally realises what is going on it is obvious that she does not approve, she answers almost every mention of “underage girls” with “mmhmm” and ultimately comments that O’Keefe is setting her up.
Then she introduces O’Keefe to a guy who is pretty much pleading with O’Keefe to find a better way to help the girls, and that no matter what happens he will get caught and go to jail.
Then on top of that, you have FOX News and Glenn Beck running the “potential homicide” angle when they had almost an entire month to fact check Tresa’s story. They also had that one month to report the supposed homicide in San Bernadino, along with the people smuggling ring in Tijuana, to police and apparently failed to do so. Oh yeah, no full transcript or unedited audio/video for that one yet either.
This is hack journalism.
bileduct on September 19, 2009 at 6:54 AM
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