IL Lawmakers Call for ACORN Investigation
by Kristina Rasmussen
Three state legislators have asked Illinois Governor Pat Quinn (D) for the suspension of all state funding and contracts with the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) pending a review of the group’s activities. The trio includes Representative Ron Stephens (R-Highland), Senator Dave Luechtefeld (R-Okawville), and Senator Kyle McCarter (R-Lebanon):
“In light of the multiple news reports exposing ACORN’s questionable behavior, as well as video evidence showing ACORN employees offering tax assistance to open brothels and tips on how to launder money into a congressional campaign account, Illinois government needs to take a good, long look at the business it does with this organization,” Stephens said. “We need to see what this group is really up to and whether or not any contracts and connections they have with the state are worthy of the use of public money.”
Stephens said the organization has received grants from various state agencies. Stephens said he and some other legislators are still gathering information on how much money the organization has received.
One such example of state funding is from an Illinois Housing Development Authority (IDHA) report entitled “Illinois’ 2008 Annual Comprehensive Housing Plan – Annual Progress Report.” ACORN Housing was listed as receiving a $100,000 capacity building grant for the Predatory Lending Database Program.
The ball is now in Governor Quinn’s court, but he’s been mum so far:
A spokesman for Quinn’s office could not be reached for comment Thursday.
CBS 2 Chicago interviewed two former ACORN Illinois staffers about their reasons for quitting the organization two years ago.
In Congress, both the House and Senate have voted to defund ACORN. Governors in California and Minnesota have asked for investigations into how taxpayer dollars were used by ACORN offices. When will Illinois wake up?
Email this to a friend | Print |
Share on Facebook
| Tweet this
| 
Follow Us on Twitter
Subscribe via RSS
Got a Tip?
31 Comments
Good, it is a start. Slowly, very slowly are the wheels of justice turning. If the Gov of Illinois does not investigate ACORN to find out what they are really up to and expose the corruption in that orgnization and within the state government he should be thrown out on his ear.
As a voter in Illinois let me tell you – this is going nowhere with the Democrats. The corrupt politicians in this state will dismiss this instantaneously.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Dolores Y. and Big Government. Big Government said: IL Lawmakers Call for ACORN Investigation: Three state legislators have asked Illinois Governor Pat Quinn (D) f.. http://bit.ly/KKwMX [...]
bet he wont because he recived acorn help
I will be sharing this story with my state and federal congressman. I will stop by at their office and hand deliver your article.
I need a score card or maybe a court docket to keep up with this.
Quinn is a democrat. As such, and considering ACORN is very pro democratic, the odds of this interim governor taking action are slim and none. He want to be elected to the seat he inherited, and want ACORN's help.
Great idea… except ACORN doesn't receive any state money in Illinois.
Facts suck.
;>) Mornin' Right! I'd really like to know how Acorn has gone unchecked for so long, and now suddenly our trusty bureaucrats want "investigations." Is this some kinda joke? None of them seemed to care when Acorn was under "investigation" for voter fraud in 14 states – as if this really wasn't important enough to warrant cutting off funding – but now…with money laundering and child exploitation on the table, they are miraculously concerned.
I ain't buyin' none of their BS…not even for a dime! Action & convictions speak louder than words!
good on 'em. T-Paw directed the State of Minnesota to cease funding the disease here. Except for what is legally required, of course.
even if this goes nowhere in Illinois, it will be part of the increasing furor, and that can't hurt. keeping this and the tentacles of the disease out in the sunlight makes them that much more ineffective.
Chicago ACORN turned in it's franchise 2 years ago and is on another name. Yes the left can leave ACCoRN assistance. It now will do more harm than good to remain attached. It is like draining a big cyst under the skin. It may leave a scar. The investigation is a sham. They are called to see if ACORN serves the needy. So if they obtain testimonials from the needy, that in no way justifies corruption.
Illinois cut its ties to corrupt political rackets? Yeah, right.
I am from Illinois/Chicago. ACORN is so deeply enmeshed this corrupt state and city that they will never, ever touch this.
The massive Chicago taxes and soon to be raised Illinois income tax is a consequence of the massive kickbacks and payoffs inherent in this thug state, where Obama has his roots.
Someone should expose the slum housing scam orchestrated by Obama, Jarrett and Rezco with photo's and video.
There is no end to the corruption in this state and there is no way those in power will change or dare to offend ACORN . It is a mutually beneficial association.
Great,then they have nothing to be worried about.
Follow the 2016 bid for the Olympics – they will try to cover up that money trail…
Upon first glance at these headlines, I was aghast. However after seeing that all three proponents of the action were republicans, it made more sense. Does anyone honestly believe that the IL governor will accept this in any meaningful way? If so, I have some great investment oppurtunities in Arizona ocean front property.
Truthfully, as a businessman doing business in several states, I know and deal with the powers that be on a regular basis; from Governors, to Senators, to Congressmen. I have called each of their respective offices over the course of the past two weeks, and frankly I am not impressed. I call, I speak to aides, I speak to burecratic functionaries, I have even spoken to the elected officials themselves. They are kind and pay me lip service, but I know the truth. They are political animals, political prostitutes, and they will only stand up when enough of US call them. only when they are threatened with being voted out of power will this movement work. There are not enough people calling them, threatening them, yet………………..
You want to see how utterly inept and fraudulent 'grant' money is dispersed in IL?
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ch...
This one is CLASSIC.
-Historical black church (birth of gospel music) is ravaged by fire.
-With cameras rolling and while running for re-election, Blago proclaims $1 million tax-payer dollars will be given to rebuild.
-When Pilgrim Church starts asking 'where's the money', government says 'we gave it to you.'
-oops, government gave the $1 million to private school that was renting space from the church.
-Private school, which had served impoverished neighborhood for years, takes the money and ditches the neighborhood and buys a second floor in an office condo bldg. near Sears Tower.
-After 'supposed' blunder, Blago offers ANOTHER $1 million tax-payer dollars to the Pilgrim Church.
continued…
The Illinois Democrat machine will have a harder time than most giving up on ACORN.
They'll put up a fight, but on the bright side, if we can see a victory here, we will know that the ACORN nut has finally been terminally cracked: “CRUSHED NUTS: How ACORN Got Trampled by the ‘Racist’ Stampede” at http://firebreathingchristian.wordpress.com/2009/...
In light of what is already known, the fact that Illinois would have any difficulty at all severing ties with ACORN says quite a lot.
-Private school never re-opens but instead racks up a judgment against it for over $200,000 by the condo association for unpaid condo fees, $300,000 for renovation costs, and liens by the IRS. Because IL government moved so slowly after 'supposed' blunder, tax-payers are last in line and will receive very little back.
-You think it can't get worse? Think again.
-The school that never should have received the money to begin with (for Pilgrim Church), should never have received grant money under ANY circumstances. The school had a judgment against it for a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by a former teacher. The school did not disclose the judgment before getting the grant. Further, after the school was wrongly given the $1 million dollars, the teacher pursued THAT money to recoup the judgment.
Think it still can't get worse? Think again.
continued…
The directer of the school, Chandra Gill – niece of the founder – is an ex-felon who was pardoned by Blago. In the recommendation of the Illinois Prisoner Review Board sent to the governor to pardon her, the petition states her connection to the school and made references to the then-pending $1 million grant.
-The infamous words of ex-felon Chandra Gill, directer of never re-opened school that was wrongly given tax-payer money, a school that has judgments and liens against it, "We did everything we were suppose to do with the million dollars … it was a great investment."
-And to just make sure your head really explodes, Tony Rezko, Jesse Jackson, and a host of others who are members of the 'Chicago Way' were involved too.
And yes, one of Blago's aides who was involved in 'wrongly' directing the $1 million to the school, is running for Obama's old US Senate seat, the one that was given through corruption to the completely inept Burris.
Quinn suspending funds and contracts to ACORN? You'd have to be OUT OF YOUR FREAKING MIND to expect that.
This is step one in a political dance, that I hope BigGovernment and other conservative news sites will continue to cover. The Chicago news and MSM liberal lap dogs won't want to expose the enemic corruption in this very liberal state, and breeding ground for the Obammassiah.
The next step is for politicians to CYA, and the fossil media will let them. Keep on them!
Maybe they can get another "independent" (Democrat) investigator like Scott Harshbarger to look into this.
Yeah……that'll do it.
I have a silly question…. Who the HELL is providing (what state agency) "grants" to ACORN. Under what guidelines is this being allocated and disbursed ? Who are the auditors of these grants ? You Illinois people should hold your governor and others accountable. Questions need to be asked ! Like….. WHO AUTHORIZED THESE GRANTS ? ?
**Quinn suspending funds and contracts to ACORN? **
What contracts? There are NO contracts between the State of IL and ACORN.
Oh baby! This is the one I've been waiting for–I want Dick Durbin and Roland Burris (and the Representatives) walking around Illinois with a big, bright red "A" on them to remind all of what they did in voting for ACORN.
Having this in the news here will help keep it in the news–now if there were only a Chicago sting video…
Good Luck getting Illinois to wake up. Why do you think most conservatives leave Illinois for places like Texas?
Quote from above story…..
"One such example of state funding is from an Illinois Housing Development Authority (IDHA) report entitled “Illinois’ 2008 Annual Comprehensive Housing Plan – Annual Progress Report.” ACORN Housing was listed as receiving a $100,000 capacity building grant for the Predatory Lending Database Program."
I guess you are right, Facts, facts do suck……….
Both IL Senators Durbin and the other guy both voted to keep ACORN funded, one for the gipper Obama.
When it comes to political corruption I am sad to say that my state IL is second to none.
Quinn appears to be just one more Dem machine hack.
[...] Some hay has been made out of the fact that no ACORN contracts showed up in the Illinois Comptroller’s database, but this may say something more about the quality of the database (e.g., how are pass-through contracts and sub-contractors dealt with on the site) than the existence of any state support for ACORN. ACORN Illinois may no longer exist, but ACORN Housing still operates in Illinois. Since they received a $100,000 grant from the Illinois Housing Development Authority, the situation should warrant a closer look. Representative Ron Stephens (R-Highland), Senator Dave Luechtefeld (R-Okawville), and Senator Kyle McCarter (R-Lebanon) were right to call for an investigation. [...]
This is my first time i go post. I collected so many interesting things in your site especially its discussion. From the tons of comments on your posts, I guess I am not the only one having all the enjoyment here! keep up the good work.Regards coffee…
Hi I reach your site by mistake when i was searching bing for this wii issue, I must say your site is really helpful I also love the design, its amazing!. I dont have that much time to read all your post at the moment but I have bookmarked yo…
You must be logged in to post a comment.