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Nadler (D-NY): Republican ACORN Amendment is Unconstitutional

by Edmund Jenks | September 18, 2009 at 08:10 am

356 views | 41 Recommendations | 5 comments

Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) believes that this action against the future of ACORN and taxpayer monies threatens any organization disliked by Congress.

This, of course, begs the question ... At what point does systemic corruption become intolerable when it comes to the commitment of Taxpayer Money?

Today, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Chair of the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, denounced a Republican Amendment adopted by the House of Representatives to deny all federal funds to ACORN as blatantly unconstitutional and a threat to unpopular organizations everywhere. The Republican initiative, entitled the Defund ACORN Act, singles out a specific organization by name for exclusion from participating in any federal program, in direct violation of the Constitution’s prohibition against Bills of Attainder.

“Today’s Republican Amendment is in blatant violation of the Constitution’s prohibition against Bills of Attainder,” said Nadler. “Congress must not be in the business of punishing individual organizations or people without trial, and that’s what this Amendment does. Whatever one may think of an organization, the Constitution’s clear ban on Bills of Attainder is there for the protection of all of our liberties.”

It is still interesting to note that even though this amendment was put forth by the Republicans in Congress, the final tally was 345-75, with Democrats supplying many of the "yes" votes but all the "no" votes.

Who are these 75 Democrats and why would they want to keep ACORN feeding at the Government trough?

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Joyomama (not verified)

at 09:30 on September 18th, 2009

He is absolutely right. Where were the witch hunters when Blackwater wasted far more money, tarnished our international reputation and electrocuted our troops? Investigations first, then guilt or innocence, as the factual evidence indicates. Vigilante legislation is wrong, no matter who is being punished.

Edmund Jenks

at 09:38 on September 18th, 2009

We already have people in jail from ACORN due to voter fraud. We have past dealings with this organization that proves a culture of corruption ... but Nadler is correct as to the potential unconstitutionality of this specific amendment - DANG!

So, how do we put on the brakes to slow down this out-of-control ACORN "clunker" of a car - no more taxpayer "Cash For Clunkers"!

Rory Cripps

at 15:14 on September 18th, 2009

Anything and everything goes in the minds of some when it comes to ideology. And indeed anything is and will be tolerated by the ideologues--for them, the means justifies the ends. Thank goodness only a few voted to maintain ACORN funding. Groups like ACORN are a big problem for President Obama because of his past associations and it's going to be used against him in 2012. Congressman like Nadler, who are on the ideological fringe, are one of the reasons why people like me moved out of New York City. Indeed, Nadler and his ilk scared the crap out of me and still do . . . .

Hugh Askew

at 03:40 on September 20th, 2009

For the author of the article, who asked, "Who are these 75 Democrats...?"

List of House members that voted against defunding.

Interestingly, Nancy P. is listed in neither the Ayes, Noes, Present, nor Absent categories.

Baldwin D WI Becerra D CA Brady D PA Brown D FL
Butterfield D NC Capuano D MA Carson D IN Castor D FL Cleaver D MO Clyburn D SC Crowley D NY Cummings D MD Davis D CA DeGette D CO Delahunt D MA Doyle D PA Edwards D MD Ellison D MN Engel D NY Fattah D PA Filner D CA Fudge D OH Green D TX Grijalva D AZ Hinchey D NY Hirono D HI Holt D NJ Honda D CA Jackson D IL Jackson-Lee D TX Johnson D GA Kilpatrick D MI Kucinich D OH Larsen D WA Lee D CA Lewis D GA Lynch D MA Markey D MA McCollum D CA McDermott D CA McGovern D CA Meeks D NY Mollohan D WV Moore D WI Moran D
VA
Nadler D NY Neal D MA Olver D MA Pallone D NJ Pascrell D NJ Payne D NJ Polis D CO Price R GA Rahall D WV Rangel D NY Roybal-Allard D CA Rush D IL Sánchez D CA Schakowsky D IL Scott D GA Scott D VA Serrano D NY Sherman D CA Sires D NJ Slaughter D NY Stark D CA Thompson D CA Towns D NY Tsongas D MA Velázquez D NY Waters D CA Watson D CA Waxman D CA Wexler D FL Woolsey D CA

Present

Hastings R WA Watt D NC

Absent

Abercrombie D HI Barrett R SC Clarke D NY Connolly D VA Costa D CA Frank D MA McHugh D CA Nunes R CA Paul R TX Radanovich R CA Tanner D CA