Photoshop credit: Leo Alberti

Kevin Mooney, Washington Examiner:

Thousands of Americans are expressing support via an on-line petition for new legislation that would block taxpayer funding for organizations with a criminal history such as the Association of Community Organizers for Reform Now (ACORN).

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) has introduced the Taxpayer Protection and Anti-Fraud Act, which would restrict access to taxpayer dollars available through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for groups that have been indicted for violations of state or federal laws. Almost 5,000 citizens have registered their support for the bill available through Bachmann’s online site, according to her press office.

As The Examiner has previously reported ACORN has received at least $53 million in federal funds since 1994, and the controversial group could potentially gain access to $8.5 billion in additional taxpayer dollars, unless Congress intervenes. The track record is not encouraging.

…“No one has a right to federal funds,” she said. “We have a fiduciary responsibility as members of Congress to establish criteria by which groups can gain access to federal dollars. I believe we should be able to raise the bar above indictment and not be restricted solely to convictions. This in no way denies someone their due process rights in court.”

Under her new bill a determination would be made on a “case by case” basis to determine whether or not a particular organization should be eligible for federal support, despite indictments.

Sign the petition here.

Eight words that need to be repeated often and loudly:

“No one has a right to federal funds.”