Paterson Puts Hold on ACORN Contracts

Not only has ACORN received millions from the fedaral government, they’ve also received a big chunk of change from New York tax payers. Governor David Paterson announced a 30 day hold on ACORN contracts.

In a memo sent to the commissioners of all state agencies on Friday, the state budget director, Robert L. Menga, said the hold would be effective for 30 days so the agencies could review their contracts with Acorn and its affiliate, the New York Agency for Community Affairs.

“We ask that your agency report any potential issues to your respective deputy secretary and budget examiner,” the memo said.

Mr. Paterson’s decision to scrutinize state contracts with Acorn comes as the political backlash on the federal level has intensified. Led by Republicans in Washington, the House of Representatives voted Thursday to deny any federal money to the group. The Senate voted earlier in the week to prohibit Acorn from receiving federal housing grants from the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

New York Republicans have also been outspoken since the Acorn controversy was ignited earlier this month after a 25-year-old conservative activist and amateur filmmaker released videos in which he posed as a pimp and solicited tax advice, accompanied by his friend, a 20-year-old amateur actress who was posing as a prostitute.

I’d hardly call this a victory. As Matt at the Buffalo Bean points out, this just gives Paterson cover while the controversy blows over.

So, a “review” will happen, and in thirty days this “review” will result in ACORN’s contracts quietly be restored. By then, another story will be dominating the front pages, and Paterson looks like he acted decisively against ACORN yet maintains (or gains) their loyalty as he tries to save his political career.

I’d feel a lot better if there was a move to completely strip ACORN of its funding. Not only are they caught up in this scandal, but they receive taxpayer funds and then blatantly work to get democrats elected. If a conservative group did that the libs would be howling from the roof tops.

While they’re investigating ACORN, maybe someone can look into the Apollo Alliance and where all that stimulus money is going.