TL on the floor

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Washington, Sep 22, 2009 - Iowa Congressman Tom Latham issued the following statement on Tuesday after cosponsoring legislation to prevent taxpayer funds from going to ACORN:

“As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, which oversees government spending, I take very seriously the importance of spending taxpayer money wisely. Members of Congress have a solemn responsibility to stop taxpayer resources from being exploited and abused. That means stopping federal dollars from going to ACORN.  I have always fought against government waste, and I’ll continue to look for ways to protect the taxpayers from the kind of mismanagement and misuse that has plagued ACORN.”

Congressman Latham voted last week for a measure to defund ACORN, which was attached to legislation overseeing federal lending to college students. The motion passed overwhelmingly, but the possibility of the student loan bill stalling in the Senate has made it necessary to pursue a standalone bill to make sure ACORN can no longer misuse taxpayer dollars, Congressman Latham said.

ACORN has received approximately $53 million in taxpayer funds since 1994, according to a report by the Republican staff for the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.  This does not include taxpayer assistance ACORN may have received at the state and local levels. The “Defund ACORN Act” would sever all ties between ACORN and the federal government and ensure that ACORN no longer is able to receive taxpayer funds.