Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT): ACORN vs. Defense Contractors

BUZZFLASH GUEST COMMENTARY

(Editor's note: The following is a pending amendment by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) to the defense appropriations bill. Here is his floor statement.)

Mr. President, this country has a $12 trillion national debt, and this year, we are running up the largest deficit in the history of our country. The taxpayers of this country want to know that the money we expend -- whether it is for defense, housing, education, or any other purpose - is spent as wisely and as cost effectively as possible. They also want to know that the corporations and institutions and individuals who receive this funding are honest and trustworthy in terms of how they expend these federal dollars.

Mr. President, several weeks ago, as you'll recall, the Senate voted to prohibit any funding going to an organization called ACORN. This decision was largely motivated by a videotape which showed employees of ACORN involved in an outrageous and absurd discussion with actors who were posing, as I understand it, as a prostitute and a pimp. Those employees, appropriately enough, were fired. As I understand it, over a period of 15 years, ACORN has received about $53 million to promote affordable housing and encourage voter registration.