GOP spending bill blocks funding for non-existent group (ACORN)

[pampango]

As recently as December 2012, Public Policy Polling found that nearly half of Republican voters believes ACORN boosted President Obama's re-election prospects. While people are certainly entitled to believe whatever they wish, let's not forget that ACORN doesn't actually exist -- the defunct group permanently closed its doors in 2010.

As it turns out, GOP voters aren't the only ones with lingering concerns about an organization that only exists in the imaginations of conservatives.

A new short-term budget bill introduced on Monday by House Republicans includes a bizarre provision banning federal funding to anti-poverty group ACORN, despite the fact that the group has already been stripped of federal funding -- and has been defunct for nearly three years.

ACORN leaders announced that the group was disbanding in March 2010, after Congress cut off all federal funding to the organization. The provision in the current GOP budget bill, buried on page 221 of 269, would duplicate legislation that has already passed, to target an organization that does not exist.

http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/03/05/17195954-gop-spending-bill-blocks-funding-for-non-existent-group

Republican voters and congressmen are always so on top of things. Nothing like whipping the same scary "boogeymen" even long after they are dead. Of course, for a party that focuses on emotion and scare tactics, the fact that ACORN no longer exists is not really 'relevant'.

[TDale313]

1. This is pretty frightening.

Not sure if they know Acorn's gone and just want the political points anyway, or if they really don't know. Not sure which is worse.

[valerief]

2. It only applies to the ACORN facilities in Emerald City and NeverNeverLand. nt

[pinboy3niner]

4. Oops! If the Wiz gets pissed, the GOP House members will never get...

...brains, hearts or courage.

[valerief]

5. And one thing they don't want is a horse of a different color. nt

[Proud Public Servant]

3. Now, in fairness

The bill also cuts off funding for the Gemini space program, the Freedman's Bureau, and the Continental Army.

[pampango]

6. Good. I've always thought that the Freeman's Bureau was a 'racial entitlement' program.

I did think that the Gemini program had a future in this era of smaller and cheaper - kind of like replacing a Hummer (the Space Shuttle) with a SmartCar.

And don't even talk about those Continental Army veterans. For how long have they been telling about their 'entitlement' to benefits.

[Sheepshank]

7. Typical GOP maneuvering...never hurts to double down on promoting fear and hate.

Makes their constituency feel like their beloved Grand Old Party is on top of all that is moral and true

[OGKush]

8. If ACORN is done who is helping those they use to help?

I thought I heard that ACORN broke up into smaller groups with different names who keep helping those in need. Maybe I was wrong.

[dsc]

9. I would be careful here

this might be crazy like a fox land. The ban funding to ACORN and any successor organizations. They may well have some organization in mind that they are going to claim is a successor organization.

[jmowreader]

10. Does it retain funding for the West Carolina Nauga Preserve?

The Nauga is an animal 37 feet long, 22 feet high at the shoulder and 15 feet across. It was hunted to near-extinction in the 1950s to 1970s as its supple skin makes wonderfully inexpensive furniture. But thanks to the efforts of concerned conservationists, we now know the skin of the Nauga can be peeled off in sheets without harming the animal. Thanks to the West Carolina Nauga Preserve our children will be able to see these magnificent beasts in a natural habitat, the supply of Nauga-hyde furniture is assured for all time, and our Republican politicians will have something to be against after they finish defunding ACORN, the Work Projects Administration, the Civil Airship Board, the Bureau of Public Roads and the Confederate War Veterans Home.