Congressman Adam Putnam is cosponsoring legislation (HR 3571) to prevent taxpayer money from being used by the controversial advocacy group ACORN (Association of Community Organizers for Reform Now), he announced today.

“ACORN has had a long history of abusing the taxpayer funding it receives,” said Putnam.  “It’s high time this comes to an end.”

Most recently ACORN organizers in several states were video-recorded apparently offering advice to people on how to hide a prostitution business from tax and law enforcement agencies.  The recordings have reportedly prompted the firings of at least four ACORN employees and launched at least one criminal investigation.  In addition, the U.S. Census bureau announced last week that it would sever all ties it has with the group.

Putnam has long been critical of ACORN’s activities, which include allegations of voter fraud and misusing taxpayer dollars for political activities. In 2008, Putnam, a member of the Financial Services Committee, called on Chairman Barney Frank (D-Mass.) to hold hearings into ACORN’s use of federal funds. But those hearings were never held.

“Taxpayers’ deserve transparency and accountability when it comes to how their money is spent,” said Putnam. “And ACORN has not gotten the sharp scrutiny it deserves.  There can be no tolerance for the abuse and waste of taxpayers’ good will and hard-earned money by entities like ACORN that promote and carry out illegal activities, while politicizing government programs. “

Since 2001, Putnam has represented Florida’s 12^th Congressional District, which includes most of Polk County and portions of Hillsborough and Osceola counties.