Pawlenty halts funds for ACORN even though no state funds are known to go to the group
Gov. Pawlenty issued a letter to the commissioner of Minnesota Management and Budget telling him to stop funding to ACORN unless the state is legally obligated to provide such funding. Pawlenty said he's ordering the review after reports surfaced about alleged illegal activity from group.
The only problem is there is no state funding currently going to ACORN's Minnesota Chapter. Chris Stinson, Minnesota ACORN's political director, said ACORN has not received any state funds. He said a separate organization, ACORN Housing, received funds in the past but no longer receives state money. In 2006, ACORN also received $749,999 from a legal settlement with the state. Then Attorney General Mike Hatch, a DFLer, directed the funds to ACORN from a settlement with Capital One
Stinson, with ACORN, dubbed Pawlenty's directive as "politically motivated." Pawlenty is considered a potential candidate for president in 2012.
UPDATE: An official with Minnesota Management and Budget said $20k in state funds went to ACORN in 1996 and 1998 and $79,000 went to ACORN Housing between 10/09/2003 and 05/09/2008.
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UPDATE:
ACORN just released this statement from Sunday Alabi, a member of the Board of Directors for Minnesota ACORN:
ACORN and its affiliated organizations receive no funding from the state of Minnesota.
It really isn't fair that the Governor attack the good work we have done here in Minnesota, just because of the indefensible action of a handful of employees in other states.
I can assure you that the Minnesota chapter of ACORN is taking every step possible, including participating in our national outside audit of our staffing and training, to make sure that our frontline staff is doing everything in the most professional manner possible.
It is disappointing that the Governor is taking this easy political potshot instead of finding out the facts. I encourage him to come to look at the work that we are doing in the state:
-Minnesota ACORN fought for and Governor Pawlenty signed one of the strongest the strongest anti-predatory lending laws in the country.
-Minnesota ACORN helped tens of thousands of low income and minority Minnesotans apply to become registered to voters last year.
-Over the years, ACORN has helped thousands of Minnesotan become first time home-buyers, avoid foreclosure, to speak up for the needs of their communities.
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