he radical left-wing group known as ACORN that once hired Barack Obama stands to reap millions in taxpayer money from the recently enacted $787 billion government spending legislation ostensibly aimed at "stimulating" the U.S. economy.  The group is eligible because the Senate defeated an amendment offered by Sen. David Vitter, R-LA, that would have prohibited ACORN from receiving any of the stimulus money directly or indirectly.

ACORN, the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, is just one of many left-wing organizations now eligible to receive portion of a staggering $2.25 billion designated in the legislation for "community stabilization."

ACORN is currently under investigation by the FBI for voter registration fraud. Its members were aggressive supporters of President Barack Obama who once had served as the group's legal counsel and was hired by ACORN to train its leaders in community organizing efforts.  ACORN chapters have also been involved in anti-2nd Amendment activities, having backed new limits on gun ownership in New Jersey.

ACORN received more than $28 million in federal money in 2008 alone, and more than $53 million since 1994.  Many of the group's chapters were instrumental in bullying financial institutions into making mortgage loans to credit risky minorities in urban areas.  In 1993, ACORN leaders working with other left-wingers convinced the federally-sponsored mortgage giant Fannie Mae to pressure banks into making mortgage loans to low-income minorities with poor credit histories so they could own their own homes, even if they couldn't afford to pay for them.

On February 6, the Senate voted 51 to 45 to defeat Senate Amendment 107 offered by Sen. Vitter that would have prohibited any direct or indirect use of stimulus money to fund any activity by ACORN.  Here is the roll call vote..  A "yes" vote was in favor of the amendment, a "no" vote was against the amendment.