Perdue says ACORN, state agencies can’t do business
September 17, 2009 at 3:55 pm by Thomas Wheatley in NewsSeveral state lawmakers with Glenn Beck posters in their Gold Dome lockers have convinced Gov. Sonny Perdue to cut ties with ACORN, the nonprofit organization that recently earned acclaim for its innovative approach to working with entrepreneurs and small businesses.
“I want to thank Sen. [Chip] Rogers and Reps. [Tom] Graves, [Mike] Keown and [Ed] Setlzer for bringing the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (“ACORN”) contract to my attention. In July, I directed my office to review all consulting contracts the state has with outside vendors to look for budget savings; that review did not identify the ACORN contract, because it does not involve state funds. The State of Georgia will not renew the contract, which expires in 13 days. Further, I have issued an Executive Order that prevents executive branch agencies from doing business with ACORN in the future and calls for a review of any existing contracts with ACORN.”
Perdue’s statement, on its own, is a little confusing. ACORN’s contract “does not involve state funds,” so it’s hard to tell how the state was paying the organization. Or what service it provided for the state. We’ve asked the governor’s office for some clarification.
The U.S. House and Senate have voted to cut funding to ACORN. On Sept. 11, the U.S. Census Bureau severed ties with the organization.
Perdue’s full statement and the executive order are pasted after the jump.
Statement of Governor Perdue Regarding the Department of Human Services Contract with ACORN
ATLANTA – Governor Sonny Perdue issued the following statement today regarding the Department of Human Services contract with ACORN which expires this month:
“I want to thank Sen. Rogers and Reps. Graves, Keown and Setlzer for bringing the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (“ACORN”) contract to my attention. In July, I directed my office to review all consulting contracts the state has with outside vendors to look for budget savings; that review did not identify the ACORN contract, because it does not involve state funds. The State of Georgia will not renew the contract, which expires in 13 days. Further, I have issued an Executive Order that prevents executive branch agencies from doing business with ACORN in the future and calls for a review of any existing contracts with ACORN.”
The text of Governor Perdue’s Executive Order is below:
Whereas: O.C.G.A. § 50-5-50 states that it is the public policy of the State of Georgia that contracts and other procurement activities be conducted with integrity and in a manner that will increase public confidence; and
Whereas: Although it is always important that the State does business with organizations with integrity, in this current budget environment it is especially vital to monitor the use of our scarce resources; and
Whereas: To date, 70 employees of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (“ACORN”) have been convicted of crimes committed in the course of their work for the organization; and
Whereas: There are numerous investigations, indictments, and prosecutions currently pending against ACORN and its staff throughout the nation; and
Whereas: As a result of recent actions by ACORN, the U.S. Census Bureau ended its relationship with ACORN on September 11 and the U.S. Senate voted 83-7 to cut off federal funding from ACORN on September 14; and
Whereas: Recent acts of ACORN employees and agents resulted in ACORN subjecting itself to an internal review of its acts and practices;
Whereas: ACORN’s current acts and historical conduct make clear that financial involvement with organizations such as ACORN is contrary to the public policy of the State of Georgia and the best interests of its citizens.
Now, therefore, by the power vested in me as Governor of the State of Georgia, it is hereby
Ordered: That all state departments, agencies, boards, bureaus and commissions including without limitation the Board of
Regents and the University System of Georgia as defined in O.C.G.A. § 50-5-77 and within the executive branch
(hereinafter “Agencies” or “Agency”), are hereby prohibited from entering into any future contracts with ACORN or its
subsidiaries or affiliates.
It is further
Ordered: That all Agencies are hereby directed to cease all existing funding for ACORN or its subsidiaries or affiliates unless such funding is legally obligated. If an Agency determines that such funding is legally obligated, that Agency is directed to inform the Executive Counsel to the Governor of its determination.
It is further
Ordered: That all Agencies are hereby directed to provide to the Executive Counsel to the Governor a copy of all existing contracts
or other agreements between the Agency and ACORN or its subsidiaries or affiliates no later than September 23, 2009.
It is further
Ordered: That no later than September 23, 2009, all Agencies are hereby directed to provide to the Executive Counsel to the Governor a copy of all existing contracts or other agreements between local governments and ACORN, its subsidiaries or affiliates that involve state funds.
This 17th day of September, 2009.
September 17th, 2009 at 4:49 pm
Conservatives HATE everybody but themselves and they will work to destroy every single person who does not agree with them. Look at David Vitter, the Senator who hired prostitutes… he is still serving in teh Senate much to the glee of his Republican friends, he participated in prostitution and paid to do so… Yet he was NEVER called on the carpet about it. Typical and pathetic.
September 17th, 2009 at 5:06 pm
Nadia,
Get over yourself. You may be okay with our state doing business with an organization engaged in voter fraud and willing to advise clients on how to set up a brothel for underage women, but I’m not.
There are Democratic senators and congressmen still serving that have cheated on taxes, cheated on their spouses, taken bribes, and cheated the American people. Personally, I don’t think either side has a moral leg to stand on.
That being said, ACORN is an obviously partisan operation. They sent buses of pro-healthcare people to town hall meetings. They have Obama posters hanging in their offices. They register voters for the Democratic party. All in violation of their tax-exempt status.
Not to mention that they receive tax dollars. They are supposed to exist to help people within the law, instead they obviously help people cheat the government and taxpayers to the maximum extent possible.
September 17th, 2009 at 5:10 pm
@Joe: In re tax-exempt status, that goes for churches, too.
September 18th, 2009 at 8:41 am
Oh well, at least the state can still do business with Halliburton/KBR, right?