You may have seen recent news about the controversy involving the organization known as ACORN (Association of Community Organizers for Reform Now).

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 and the IRS have announced that they would sever all ties to the group.

As an original cosponsor of The Defund ACORN Act (H.R. 3571), I believe that Congress should lead the effort to ensure taxpayer funds are protected from fraud and abuse by ending all federal funding of ACORN -- an organization that has been at the center of many serious allegations of illegal activity ranging from voter fraud to tax fraud. 

At the end of the last week, we were able to successfully add H.R. 3571 to a bill that passed the House, which is a significant step forward in an effort to end taxpayer funding of ACORN.  The legislation has now been sent to the Senate for consideration.

Thus far, the federal government has provided ACORN with millions of dollars in taxpayer funds.  Along with several of my colleagues, I have consistently called for greater oversight of ACORN and investigations into the activities they have participated in.  I will continue to do so in order to ensure that we stop funding such organizations and the illegal activities they perform.

To reade more about this and other issues visit my Web site:
http://adamputnam.house.gov/issue_pages.shtml