McCollum's 'ACORN' bill targets corporations that run afoul of law

[question everything]

Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune

It's Betty McCollum vs. Michele Bachmann in a congressional smackdown over ACORN, the community organization that's been the target of Republican attacks since the 2008 presidential election.

Just weeks after embarrassing footage from an amateur sting prompted the U.S. House to defund ACORN, Rep. McCollum, D-Minn., is introducing a similar bill aimed at barring federal dollars to corporations that run afoul of the law.

"It just points out the hypocrisy," McCollum said in an interview Wednesday. "Here we have corporations that have been convicted of felonies, and continue to do business with the government."

The bill, dubbed the "Against Corporations Organizing to Rip-off the Nation Act (ACORN)," is a play on ACORN's real moniker, the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now.



Read more: http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/congress/62896792.html

[AndyA]

1. DAMN STRAIGHT! I'm fed up with the hypocrisy on the right.

I hope the ACORN defunding backfires on the SOB's so they get the boot up the butt from their corporate masters. Serves them right.

[NewJeffCT]

2. *Gasp* it could target just about any corporation out there!

you can't have that - what would Halliburton do if they had to actually, you know, obey the law? Their stock price would plummet!

[Overseas]

3. K&R. And I want Democrats to use the language of the original anti ACORN legislation.

The congressional legislation intended to defund ACORN, passed with broad bipartisan support, is written so broadly that it applies to "any organization" that has been charged with breaking federal or state election laws, lobbying disclosure laws, campaign finance laws or filing fraudulent paperwork with any federal or state agency. It also applies to any of the employees, contractors or other folks affiliated with a group charged with any of those things.

In other words, the bill could plausibly defund the entire military-industrial complex. Whoops.

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Fla.) picked up on the legislative overreach and asked the Project on Government Oversight (POGO) to sift through its database to find which contractors might be caught in the ACORN net.

Lockheed Martin and Northrop Gumman both popped up quickly, with 20 fraud cases between them, and the longer list is a Who's Who of weapons manufacturers and defense contractors.

The language was written by the GOP and filed as a "motion to recommit" in the House, where it passed 345-75.

POGO is reaching out to its members to identify other companies who have engaged in the type of misconduct that would make them ineligible for federal funds.

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/22/whoops-anti-acorn-bill-ro_n_294949.html

[MineralMan]

4. Unintended consequences'll getcha every time.

Now, let's cut off some funding, pronto!

[maxrandb]

7. I'll believe it when I see it

Wouldn't be surprised if they pass an amendment so that the law only targets organizations made up of middle class, poor, or brown-skinned Americans.

That's the problem with our entire government. 10,000,000 middle class and poor Americans have less power and influence than 1 CEO with a fat wallet.

[Seedersandleechers]

12. agreed

:thumbsup:

[quakerboy]

24. isnt it great being a cynic?

Or perhaps we should just call ourselves realists.

[KansDem]

5. You know, you got to believe that there are many corporate CEOs shaking there heads at this...

I mean, you spend decades and millions putting shills and buffoons in Congress to do your nefarious bidding and just when you think you're set, the fuckup GOPers come up with this ACORN de-funding nonsense that has the potential to come right back at you and bite you in your big fat, corporate ass!

:rofl:

[Froward69]

6. I hate to say it but

if we have to sacrifice ACORN to cut off funding to Haliburton and Blackwater... then I am for it...

[Uncle Joe]

9. There is a major difference, Acorn has only been indicted, they hadn't been to trial before the

Congress played judge and jury.

This legislation is aimed at corporations that have been convicted of a felony and in my view is far more just and Constitutional.

[ljm2002]

16. Were charges filed against ACORN?

I must have missed that...

IOW, the only place I am aware of where they have been indicted in regard to the stealth videos, is in the court of public opinion.

[Uncle Joe]

17. You are correct , to my knowledge they've only been indicted in the court of public opinion

Thank you for the correction.

P.S. What does IOW mean?

[ljm2002]

18. IOW == In Other Words (n/t) :-)

[defendandprotect]

22. Saw David Inglasius* on ...either Keith or Rachel the other night . . .

he says that pretty much no real cases of people voting illegally --

maybe 14 a year! Not sure I got his name right -- and hope someone else also saw the show.

As I understood it, the whole ACORN-voting thing was also made up --

Government requires that if someone signs on as "Mickey Mouse" or "Donald Duck" to register,

that the organization HAS TO PASS ON THAT INFO TO THEM.

You can't remove it.

ACORN did highlight or list those which were suspicious --

GOP claims they were trying to pass them off as real voters!!!

Now . . . maybe someone else has more on this, but that's my understanding of it!

[Dr Fate]

20. Agreed- but Our Blue Dog Masters will never allow that.

My guess is that Our Blue Dog Masters will still go after ACORN in an effort to "look centrist", and this brilliant idea for a counter punch will be swept under the rug.

[Uncle Joe]

8. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, question everything.:thumbsup:

[Oldtimeralso]

10. K & R and proud to help the cause n/t

[TygrBright]

11. Go, Betty, GO!

Finally, it looks like we're getting someone who will live up to Bruce Vento's legacy.

I still miss Bruce...

wistfully,
Bright

[winyanstaz]

13. Good..about time too!

[eagertolearn]

14. This is so great. Now we are learning how to play the GOP's games!

[mzmolly]

15. !

:toast:

[Dr Fate]

19. I was hoping some DEM would do something exactly like this, but will Our Blue Dog Masters approve?

I hope Our Blue Dog Masters back up McCollum on this- but I doubt they will.

My guess is that Our Blue Dog Masters will still shit on ACORN in an effort to "look moderate"- but ignore McCollum's idea for a brilliant counter punch.

Even still, great effort. Someday ideas like this will work, if we can get rid of Our Blue Dog Masters first.

[defendandprotect]

21. Blackwater, GE, pharmaceutical companies/ALL of them have defrauded Medicare...

Medicaid -- and other "for profit" corporations in health care industry as well --

[laughingliberal]

23. Start writing all your Reps and Senators

in support of the legislation. If she can get coverage from the MSM on this it will have widespread support. Even the independents and Republicans are not very happy with these bloated corporations right now.