ACORN PAY OFF from Democrats' ?

U.S. House
Republican Leader
John Boehner
sends out this warning:

The House Democrats’ trillion dollar spending bill, approved on January 21 by the Appropriations Committee and headed to the House floor next week for a vote, could open billions of taxpayer dollars to left-wing groups like the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN).

ACORN has been accused of perpetrating voter registration fraud numerous times in the last several elections; is reportedly under federal investigation; and played a key role in the irresponsible schemes that caused a financial meltdown that has cost American taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars since last fall.

House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) and other Republicans are asking a simple question: what does this have to do with job creation? Are Congressional Democrats really going to borrow money from our children and grandchildren to give handouts to ACORN in the name of economic “stimulus?”

Incredibly, the Democrats’ bill makes groups like ACORN eligible for a $4.19 billion pot of money for “neighborhood stabilization activities.” Funds for this purpose were authorized in the Housing and Economic Recovery Act, signed into law in 2008. However, these funds were limited to state and local governments. Now House Democrats are taking the unprecedented step of making ACORN and other groups eligible for these funds:

“For a further additional amount for ‘Community Development Fund,’ $4,190,000,000, to be used for neighborhood stabilization activities related to emergency assistance for the redevelopment of abandoned and foreclosed homes as authorized under division B, title III of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (Public Law 110–289), of which—

“(1) not less than $3,440,000,000 shall be allocated by a competition for which eligible entities shall be States, units of general local government, and nonprofit entities or consortia of nonprofit entities[.]”

“(2) up to $750,000,000 shall be awarded by competition to nonprofit entities or consortia of nonprofit entities to provide community stabilization assistance […]”

The House Democrats’ trillion dollar spending bill also includes $1 billion for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program. CDBG funds are given by the federal government to state and local governments which often contract with nonprofits for services related to the purpose of the grant.

ACORN knows how to secure CDBG funds. Audit reports filed by ACORN’s headquarters with the Office of Management and Budget show that ACORN spent $1,588,599 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program funds from FY 2003 through FY 2007. It is not clear from these records when or from what source the funds were awarded to ACORN. It is also not clear whether ACORN chapters or affiliates have received CDBG grants on their own.

House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) repeatedly urged President George W. Bush and other federal officials to withhold taxpayer funds from ACORN, including $17.2 million in federal grants awarded in December 2008 after numerous allegations of wrongdoing in connection with ACORN’s election activities were reported by the news media.

Leader Boehner also released a study of federal records in October 2008 listing tens of millions in federal grants received by ACORN. A new updated and more expansive study reveals that ACORN has actually received millions more than first thought. A review of the Federal Register and news releases issued by federal agencies showed that ACORN was awarded more than $53 million in taxpayer dollars. This amount does not reflect the millions more ACORN has received in federal block grant funds awarded to state and local agencies which passed them on to ACORN.

Cole drop out of race for NRCC chair

U.S. Rep. Tom Cole on Wednesday withdrew from his race for another term as chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee.

Elizabeth Eddy, press aide for the Oklahoma Republican, said Cole withdrew before a scheduled vote by the Republican conference.

Cole drew a challenge from Rep. Pete Sessions of Texas, who launched his bid to unseat Cole following GOP losses in the elections.

Sessions had the support of House Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio. Cole, who had defeated Sessions for the post two years ago, and Boehner had clashed early on over NRCC staff.

NRCC THROW Losing Candidates Under The Bus, Sound like Oklahoma

Could it be that some Consultant are
FULL of HOT AIR and
do NOT what they are doing,
and are being paying way too much $$$$$$ ?

Like I said sound like Oklahoma !

RealClearPolitics Politics Nation Blog
By Reid Wilson (AIM: PoliticsNation)

May 09, 2008
Losing Candidates Under The Bus

Today, we wrote about the troubling scene inside the House Republican Conference just days before a special election in Mississippi to replace now-Senator Roger Wicker. After special election losses in Illinois and Louisiana in recent weeks, tension between House Minority Leader John Boehner and NRCC chairman Tom Cole are said to be running at an all-time high.

But even though generic congressional ballot questions show Democrats running more than a dozen points ahead of Republicans -- the latest survey, from CBS and the New York Times, had it at 18 points, the same gap as before the 2006 elections -- the NRCC has been reluctant to admit a national problem.

GOP strategists have excused their party's poor performance in previous special elections by blaming flawed candidates. After the loss in Illinois, Boehner reportedly told members at a closed conference meeting that Jim Oberweis, the Republican candidate, lost his home precinct by a four-to-one margin. That statistic was repeated religiously by Republican members and staff in subsequent conversations with the media. The problem, though, is that Oberweis won his home precinct by an approximately three-to-two margin.

After Republican candidate Woody Jenkins lost his special election, the NRCC pointed to the fact that previous polls had shown Democrat Don Cazayoux leading by ten points, and he won by just three after advertising sought to link him to Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi. Nationalizing the race, they said, had closed the gap. Still, Republicans on Capitol Hill said Jenkins, who has a long history in Louisiana politics, had too much baggage.

Even the GOP candidate in neighboring Mississippi is getting in on the act. "Greg Davis [the mayor of Southaven, Mississippi and the party's candidate in that special election] and Woody Jenkins are two completely different candidates," Davis manager Ted Prill told Politics Nation.

But Davis is also being touted as a less than perfect candidate, and sources throughout Washington already have the talking point down: Davis is the mayor of a town in the Memphis suburbs, far away from the district's population center, in Tupelo. Childers' home county is just north of Tupelo, and in the South, several top Republicans pointed out, georaphy matters. If the GOP loses again, they will point to the fact that Davis was simply a candidate from the wrong part of the district.

Fair or not, that's how Republican leaders in Washington are casting their losing candidates, instead of taking blame themselves. It's probably a wise solution, given that a devastating loss in November could lead to both Cole and Boehner's ouster from their leadership posts. "The two offices are positioning themselves to avoid blame or to lay blame," one top Republican leadership aide outside of Cole's and Boehner's office told Politics Nation. "The rest of leadership is just trying to avoid a family fight."

Boehner, Pelosi Battle Over Website Domain

Hat Tip to David All

Boehner, Pelosi Battle Over Website Domain
Posted by David All Tue, 2008-02-26 10:51

An interesting battle is quietly taking place in the annals of Congress (and online) that probably won't make it very far beyond the Beltway chattering class but is worth noting in this space.

The turse is between Republican Leader John Boehner, Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi, and House bureaucrats (hired by Pelosi) who interpret silly, outdated, and flawed House Rules governing the use of websites by Members of Congress at their discretion.

The gist of the story is that Leader Boehner's office received approval in August to use the domain name, earmarkreform.house.gov, to serve as the House Republican's hub to reform earmarks. However, just two weeks after the website went live, the House Chief Administrative Officer, Dan Beard, rescinded his approval of the domain name, calling the previous approval a "mistake," and has shut the website down.

Boehner is, rightfully, crying foul. CQ has the full scoop:

[Boehner] said he was convinced the revocation was politically motivated.

“I am writing today to register my protest over this belated change,” he wrote Beard. “Changing its address now will inevitably hamper the effectiveness of the new Web site, much to the convenience of the majority that runs the House.”

Boehner went on to allege that the change was probably related to the continued stream of stories about Democratic House members and their use of the earmarking process.

The response to Boehner:

In a statement, Beard spokesman Jeff Ventura said permission for Boehner to use the Web site was issued mistakenly. He said the CAO had determined that the address violated using a slogan in the name of any site included in the house.gov domain and that Boehner had been asked to “transition” to another address.

“The CAO is now initiating a review” of all House Web addresses “to ensure compliance with traditional formatting,” Ventura said. Any sites that are in potential conflict with the House Administration Committee’s interpretation of the rule will be reviewed by the committee.

He said the House information resources office is “working with Mr. Boehner’s staff to make the transition as seamless as possible.”

Boehner is fighting a good, worthwhile fight that conservative activists could rally behind. In fact, over at Slatecard, our donor analytics show that the issue badge, Cut The Pork, is the #1 most frequently given issue badge and is the #2 issue badge with regard to total donations:

Top Issue Badges By Frequency
1. Cut The Pork: 54
2. Pro-Life: 48
3. Protect & Defend America: 46
4. Jobs & Economy: 36
5. Conservation Of Resources: 33

Top Issue Badges By Total Dollars
1. Protect & Defend America: $9,435.99
2. Cut The Pork: $6,593.00
3. Available and Affordable Health Care: $4,825.00
4. Jobs & Economy: $4,337.00
5. Defeat Radical Islam: $3,525.00

However, the truth of the matter is that, when live and operational, the website probably wasn't actually doing much good with regard to changing the narrative about House Republicans and earmarks. However, it was a strong step in the right direction as a positive embrace of the Internet by Republicans and a very real hub of information/efforts toward one single goal.

But, now, in its death -- we're all writing about the fact that John Boehner's efforts to reform earmarks is being crippled not by a team of appropriators -- but by Nancy Pelosi and her liberal allies.

That's a win for his communications team. A scoop of porridge if you'll have it.

Boehner Cries Foul After House
CAO Revokes GOP Web Address

By Edward Epstein, CQ Staff

House Minority Leader Rep. John A. Boehner wants his Web site address back.

The Ohio Republican on Thursday protested a decision by House Chief Administrative Officer Dan Beard to revoke his staff’s earlier approval for Boehner to use the address www.earmarkreform.house.gov.

The site, which House GOP leaders set up to promote their ideas for making further changes to the congressional earmark system and to pressure Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Democratic leaders to support them, had gone online earlier this month.

Boehner had received permission to use the Web address in an Aug. 18 letter from the House Information Resources office. The GOP site went online earlier this month.

Boehner got another letter this week telling him that permission had been rescinded.

He said he was convinced the revocation was politically motivated.

“I am writing today to register my protest over this belated change,” he wrote Beard. “Changing its address now will inevitably hamper the effectiveness of the new Web site, much to the convenience of the majority that runs the House.”

Boehner went on to allege that the change was probably related to the continued stream of stories about Democratic House members and their use of the earmarking process.

In a statement, Beard spokesman Jeff Ventura said permission for Boehner to use the Web site was issued mistakenly. He said the CAO had determined that the address violated using a slogan in the name of any site included in the house.gov domain and that Boehner had been asked to “transition” to another address.

“The CAO is now initiating a review” of all House Web addresses “to ensure compliance with traditional formatting,” Ventura said. Any sites that are in potential conflict with the House Administration Committee’s interpretation of the rule will be reviewed by the committee.

He said the House information resources office is “working with Mr. Boehner’s staff to make the transition as seamless as possible.”

Support Jeff Flake for House Appropriations !

We need your help to get pork-busting Congressman Jeff Flake (R-AZ) on the House Appropriations Committee. This will allow him to fight over-spending and earmarks like the Bridge to Nowhere from the inside, where he can do the most for taxpayers.

Please call House Minority Leader John Boehner today at 202-225-6205 and tell his staff that you would like to see John Boehner publicly support Congressman Flake for the Appropriations Committee.

This effort started in the blogosphere and among grassroots activists, and has now taken on a life of its own! Please help us convince the GOP leadership that if they are serious about spending reform, they will support Jeff Flake.

Our new website for this campaign is http://www.makeitflake.com

The Road to Recovery Begins with Jeff Flake on Appropriations

The Road to Recovery Begins
with Jeff Flake on Appropriations

By The Directors

With Roger Wicker being named a United States Senator, there is an opening on the Appropriations Committee for the U.S. House of Representatives. The Republicans get to fill the seat. The Republican leadership has a great opportunity to prove that it is serious about earmark reform and a conservative approach to spending. It’s time to put some action behind their rhetoric.

Rep. Tom Cole, the Chairman of the NRCC, the campaign arm of the House Republicans, claims that he deserves the spot - that putting himself on the Appropriations Committee will help improve Republican fundraising successes. That, in and of itself, should tell you everything you need to know about why Tom Cole is a poor choice.

We encourage you to call your Republican member of Congress (or the closest one to you if you don't have one) and encourage them to support Rep. Jeff Flake for the Appropriations Committee.

The GOP will not earn the trust of voters again until the House Republicans prove they are fiscally responsible. Jeff Flake has led the fight on the House floor against earmarks and wasteful spending. Jeff Flake gets it.

Our party needs Jeff Flake as the face for reform on the influential Appropriations Committee. He is also one of the few men who could change the committee instead of the committee changing him.

The Republican Steering Committee will nominate someone for this spot - and generally, the Republican Conference as a whole rubber stamps that nomination. But it does not have to be that way. Already Republican backbenchers and members of the Republican Study Committee are gearing up for a fight to nominate Jeff Flake.

If the Steering Committee does not nominate Flake, the Conference can. Let's help them out. Call your Republican member of Congress and encourage him or her to support Jeff Flake.

Approps seat tests the GOP on spending

Approps seat tests the GOP on spending
By Jackie Kucinich
January 15, 2008

House Republicans this month will face a defining moment when they fill an opening on the Appropriations Committee: Either appoint an anti-earmark lawmaker or risk further alienating conservatives at the grassroots level.

The intensifying effort to persuade Republican leaders to select Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) to fill ex-Rep. Roger Wicker’s (R-Miss.) Appropriations seat grew stronger Monday as FreedomWorks endorsed the maverick lawmaker.

Former House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-Texas), now FreedomWorks president, said in a release, “Appointing Jeff Flake would make a major statement to the American people that the Republican Party is about the big ideas, such as ending wasteful earmarks and bringing transparency to the Appropriations Committee.” Armey added that the appointment is “a test” for the Republican Party, suggesting the GOP will not be back in the congressional majority unless it takes bold steps such as tapping Flake.

After sweeping GOP losses in the 2006 election, many Republicans on and off Capitol Hill faulted the rapid growth of earmarks as a major part of the party’s problem. President Bush last year pressed Congress to significantly curtail earmark use.

Flake is perhaps best known for offering anti-earmark amendments on the House floor that often fall well short of passing. The motions have infuriated some GOP members, especially appropriators.

There are seven appropriators on the 27-member House Republican Steering Committee, which will make its decision later this month.

While influential outside groups are pushing for Flake, some Republicans and watchdogs are grumbling about Rep. Tom Cole’s (R-Okla.) bid for the appropriations opening. Cole’s surprise candidacy for the Wicker slot has triggered questions about the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) chairman’s motives.

Cole has indicated that he would be able to boost the NRCC’s war chest if appointed to the spending committee. Cole jumped into the race months after he and House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) clashed on NRCC’s fundraising, which is lagging far behind that of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

“My first reaction is the crass power-play aspect of it was astonishing,” said Meredith McGehee, policy director for the Campaign Legal Center, a non-partisan group that monitors campaign finance expenditures. “These appropriations are used as partisan pawns rather than as wise spending of taxpayers’ dollars.”

Republicans “are going to have a tough decision between change and wanting to distance themselves from the [Jack] Abramoff era or [reiterating that] delivering pork is the way to gain political power, “ McGehee added.

Groups such as Club for Growth, Americans for Prosperity and RedState.com began the drumbeat for Flake last week, saying that his brand of fiscal conservatism is badly needed on the spending panel. They urged members to contact Boehner to advocate for a Flake appointment.

A Boehner spokesman said the office had received “some calls” on the topic.

“We need someone [to reform the committee] from the inside,” said Nachama Soloveichik, a spokeswoman for Club for Growth.

While declining to name Cole specifically, Soloveichik said that appointing another member would send a message of Washington business as usual.

“It’s not the message we want to send. It’s about cutting waste and eliminating corruption — it’s not about special deals,” she said, adding that while in the short term fundraising may go up, in the long term “it would be a stake in the heart of the party.”

One former GOP leadership aide was not so kind, describing Cole’s move as “selfish,” explaining that the seat should rightly go to a politically vulnerable member who could use the power the committee affords to stay in office. The aide noted that Democratic target Rep. Dave Reichert (R-Wash.) is seeking the seat.

Cole’s office declined to comment on the those claims, pointing to its statement last week that says “Congressman Cole respects all of his colleagues who are also seeking this appointment. He has been quietly making his case to members of the Steering Committee and is confident they will make a decision in the best interests of the Republican Conference.”

In addition to Reichert, Flake and Cole, Reps. Henry Brown Jr. (R-S.C.), Jo Bonner (R-Ala.) and Michael Turner (R-Ohio) have expressed interest in the post.

Last week, Flake found an unlikely ally in appropriator Rep. Jack Kingston (R-Ga.) who, while a strong believer in the right to earmark, believes Flake’s addition would be a strong message of a party’s ability to reform itself.

“Jeff has a lot of respect and would be a very good and very viable member,” Kingston said. “This would be a very serious step to get back to where we need to be.

“This is a big cultural challenge on our part: Are we ready for change?” Kingston said. “If we are not up to the challenge to step up to this challenge then we are not ready to assume the majority again.”

Republican Study Committee (RSC) Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas) echoed Kingston’s remarks, saying, “Jeff Flake is the gold standard of earmark reform. Period. End of paragraph.”

Hensarling pointed out that while several RSC members are interested in the post, Flake’s distinction as a member who does not accept earmarks sets him apart and would “send a very strong symbol” for fiscal responsibility. Hensarling stressed he is not endorsing Flake, however.

Flake asserted that his presence could add much-needed oversight to a committee that has been plagued with questionable ethical practices and, according to many conservatives, is in dire need of reform.

Flake said he has spoken to Boehner and other steering committee members about his bid.