James Terry, Chief Public Advocate, Consumers Rights League:

"ACORN says they don't take federal money, but AHC takes millions and from2004 to 2006 on funneled 4.6 million to ACORN. They have been able to getaway with it due to a convoluted, Enron kind of accounting but this must stop.Congress must cut off funds, investigate and prosecute those who are found tobe willfully using taxpayer funds to support fraudulent political operationsand put in place transparency, reporting requirements and firewallrequirements to prevent future abuses.

"Senator Ensign and Congressmen Boehner and Blunt are right -- enough isenough. With ACORN standing to reap millions in taxpayer dollars from thefinancial crisis it helped create, this multi-national, corrupt organizationneeds to be investigated, not further rewarded. Now, with 40 Members of theHouse of Representatives and two House leaders calling for an investigation,along with Senator Ensign calling for an immediate suspension of taxpayerdollars to ACORN, it is time the Congressional leadership and the appropriatefederal authorities to take action to ensure taxpayers are protected.

"Not a single additional cent should be doled out to ACORN with itsgrowing list of questionable practices. And the public money already flowingto this organization should be suspended immediately.

"ACORN's admission in Ohio that fraud is acceptable is stunning in itsgravity and their reasoning is simply not credible. It is difficult toswallow the notion that an organization spending an estimated $50 million pluson a voter registration project would cite lack of resources as an excuse toaccept fraudulent practices.

"The fact is, year after year, ACORN has consistently displayed contemptfor the law and a willingness to accept rampant fraud as a simple cost ofdoing business. Unfortunately, voter registration is not the only area ofACORN's operation to disregard the law. This organization has a long historyof fraud, embezzlement and misuse of taxpayer funds. With an estimated $110million annual budget, there is more than adequate resources to allow forproper oversight. But there seems to be a culture of corruption that pervadesthe organization that should be investigated not rewarded with millions moreof taxpayer dollars."

Background:

James Terry testified at a joint House Administration and House JudiciaryCommittee oversight hearing on "Federal, State and Local Efforts to Preparefor the General 2008 Election," where he highlighted "corruption at everylevel of ACORN including embezzlement, cover-ups, misuse of taxpayer funds andvoter fraud. The testimony can be viewed here:http://www.consumersrightsleague.org/uploadedfiles/JamesTerryACORN9-24.pdf

CRL's report on ACORN http://www.consumersrightsleague.org/UploadedFiles/ACORN_AHC_Report.pdf About The Consumers Rights League:

The Consumers Rights League is a non-profit, non-partisan educationalorganization dedicated to protecting consumer choice and access to themarketplace. Through investigative analysis, CRL produces quality researchthat thoroughly documents the real-world choices and challenges consumers faceand reports on the benefits enjoyed by an overwhelming majority of consumers.Learn more about CRL's mission at www.consumersrightsleague.org.

SOURCE The Consumers Rights League