WASHINGTON   –  U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (MO-08) today joined a majority of her colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to remove all federal funding from the community-organizing group ACORN.  The vote of 345-75, with two voting present, was a resounding rebuke of the organization which has been embroiled in controversies ranging from voting fraud to dispensing illegal advice on tax evasion.

“There is no place in the budget of any federal entity for support of this awful behavior.  I don’t condone it, and taxpayers should not support it,” Emerson said.  “Even in Missouri, we have seen activities of ACORN related to voter registration which are questionable at best.”

The legislative measure Emerson supported adds the Defund ACORN Act to another bill, pre-empting any future federal funds for the group.  Emerson intends to go further on the issue as Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services.

“The Internal Revenue Service ought to reexamine ACORN in light of the allegations of criminal activity.  If there is any undue benefit to the organization in the Financial Services Appropriations Act, you can bet I will be working to remove it,” Emerson said.

Earlier this week, the U.S. Senate voted 83-7 to remove federal funds for ACORN from its version of the Transportation and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations legislation.