NASHVILLE, TN – Tennessee Republican Party Chairman Chris Devaney applauded Senators Bob Corker and Lamar Alexander for voting to keep the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (Acorn) from receiving federal funds for housing projects.

“Acorn has demonstrated time and again that their organization is unable to function within the law,” said Devaney. “Taxpayers are tired of seeing their hard-earned dollars flow into this corrupt association and yesterday’s vote taken by Senators Corker and Alexander shows they are standing up for Tennesseans and saying enough is enough.”

Both Corker and Alexander voted “yes” on an amendment offered by Nebraska Republican Senator Mike Johanns. The amendment prohibits funds from H.R. 3288, the current transportation and housing appropriations bill, from being doled out to Acorn for various housing projects. The vote comes just after U.S. Census Bureau Director Robert Groves severed ties with the organization for the 2010 census.

“This amendment is another step in the right direction to stop funding Acorn,” continued Devaney. “Along with this vote, I am also very pleased with Director Groves’ decision to end the Bureau’s partnership with Acorn before the upcoming census.”

Just last week, four Acorn employees were fired when they were secretly videotaped providing advice on how to launder money and run a prostitution ring and according to news reports, the organization is currently under investigation for voter fraud in several states. Earlier this month in Florida, 11 voter registration workers employed by Acorn were arrested on suspicion of falsifying hundreds of voter registration cards.

According to a website that tracks federal government spending, Acorn Housing Corp, Inc received more than $1.6 million in taxpayer-funded grants this fiscal year.

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