Brown Pelican Society of Louisiana

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Michele Bachmann (MN-06) today requested the U.S. Census Bureau to refrain from partnering with ACORN in light of the numerous additional criminal activities uncovered this week:

“The past three days have brought to light further evidence that ACORN is untrustworthy and not worthy of being a partner for the 2010 census,” said Bachmann.  “These additional findings are disturbing and merely solidify my original and long-standing position that an organization with a continuous cloud of suspicion should be banned from receiving taxpayer dollars.  So long as this cloud of suspicion hangs over ACORN, I am afraid that its partnership with the Bureau could jeopardize the integrity of the census process and diminish the public’s trust in the Census.”

Bachmann has also requested Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Chairman Barney Frank conduct a congressional investigation into ACORN, its use of tax dollars, and whether it should repay tax dollars already received.

In order to immediately stop taxpayer dollars from funding ACORN, Bachmann is requesting the IRS revoke ACORN’s tax exempt status; the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) halt any current funding; and the HUD Suspension and Debarment Committee suspend any future access to funding until ACORN cleans up its operation.

Click here to learn about the 11 ACORN workers arrested for voter registration or click here to view video of the Baltimore prostitution investigation.

Text of the letter to the U.S. Census Bureau provided below:

September 11, 2009

Mr. Robert M. Grovers

Director

U.S. Census Bureau

4600 Silver Hill Rd.

Suitland, MD 20746

This week the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN), a current participant in the Census Bureau’s Planning Partnership Program for the 2010 Census, once again made unsavory headlines.

On Wednesday, FBI and state authorities charged 11 ACORN employees with voter registration fraud in Miami, Florida.  In this case, of 1,400 registration cards collected by these employees, 888 were found to be falsified.  A day later, two Baltimore-based ACORN workers were caught on camera giving advice to a couple, whom they believed were opening a brothel, on avoiding taxes, seeking HUD grants, and setting up a prostitution ring as a legitimate business.  Today, yet another video surfaced showing two more ACORN employees assisting this couple under the same premise in Washington, D.C.

Unfortunately, the past three days have brought to light further evidence of that ACORN either cannot or will not enforce even the most basic standards of ethical behavior amongst its employees.  This is not something that should be new and surprising to anyone who has seen the plethora of headlines about criminal investigations, indictments, and consent decrees in more than a dozen states.  And, despite ACORN’s pleas that this is just a few bad apples, it’s clear that the problems exist on a systemic level.  In fact, Nevada’s Democrat attorney general, Catherine Cortez Masto, said earlier this year that ACORN’s own training manuals “clearly detail, condone and require illegal acts.”  These new videos provide a clear glimpse into the behind-the-scenes activities occurring in ACORN offices across our nation.

It is my understanding that the Census Bureau remains intent on allowing ACORN’s participation in the Census Partnership Program, particularly in light of the fact that the program is meant to develop trust with the census amongst the American people.  Given ACORN’s past, I have asked before how ACORN could be considered worthy of the Census Bureau’s imprimatur.  However, in light of this week’s even more disturbing reports, I am requesting that you reconsider the Bureau’s position and refrain from partnering with ACORN during the course of the 2010 Census.  So long as this cloud of suspicion hangs over ACORN, I am afraid that its partnership with the Bureau could jeopardize the integrity of the census process and diminish the public’s trust in the Census.

Thank you for your consideration and please do not hesitate to contact me or my Legislative Director, Jessica Perry, at 202-225-2331 should you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Michele Bachmann

Member of Congress

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