Charlie Dent
WASHINGTON DC – Lower Pottsgrove Congressman Charlie Dent (PA 15th Dist.), was among Republicans in the House who supported legislation Thursday (Sept. 17, 2009) to deny all future public funding for the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN). The measure, which was attached to a student aid billed, passed 345-75, the Associated Press reported.
ACORN has come under heavy scrutiny for allegations that some of its volunteers and officials falsified voter registration forms, and could not be depended on to conduct a fair and accurate count for next year’s Census. Most recently, ACORN workers in Brooklyn were shown on video tape suggesting that a woman posing as a prostitute should lie about her profession and launder her earnings.
ACORN chief executive officer Bertha Lewis on Wednesday called actions by a handful of the group’s employees “indefensible.” She immediately ordered an independent audit and investigation of ACORN’s internal systems.
“It’s time to shut them down,” Dent said of the group, which was organized to find housing for the disadvantaged.
A bill similar to that of the House was approved 83-7 three days earlier by the Senate. Neither initiative to cut ACORN’s funding can take effect until bills to which they are attached are signed into law by President Obama.
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Charlie had better not paint with a broad brush an organization that does a lot of good. Perhaps he should look to his fellow Congressman and the poor things they do. Would he care to be lumped in with them?
If he’s aware of criminal or fraudulent activities he should get them investigated and criminal actions taken. If it’s simply political bad mouthing, he should be aware that he’s up for election and will not be re-elected if he’s not fair.
E J Cox