Is ACORN a toxic organization?  Illinois Congressmen Mark Kirk and Peter Roskam, along with North Carolina Congressman Patrick McHenry, made the case today at a press conference in Chicago.  

Below is a press release handed out by the office of Congressman Mark Kirk (R-IL).

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Research reveals web of financial ties between ACORN and SEIU;

SEIU Local 880 formed by ACORN, rents office from ACORN front group while another finances ACORN “election efforts”;

U.S. Census recently cut ties with ACORN but partnership with SEIU remains

CHICAGO – Illinois Congressmen Mark Kirk and Peter Roskam today urged the U.S. Census Bureau to end its relationship with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), a sister group to the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) – a relationship intended to recruit SEIU workers for the 2010 census.  Also joining Congressmen Kirk and Roskam was Congressman Patrick McHenry (N.C.-10), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform’s Subcommittee on Information Policy, Census, and National Archives.

The U.S. Census Bureau delegated work to outside groups for the federal 2010 census.  Following the release of undercover videos showing ACORN workers helping a fake pimp and prostitute illegally secure housing, the Census Bureau terminated its partnership with ACORN.  The House and Senate voted to block federal funding for ACORN and ACORN-related affiliates, including SEIU.  While the Census Bureau terminated its partnership with ACORN, it left its close connection with SEIU intact.

“Given SEIU’s co-location with ACORN in Chicago and SEIU’s intimate financial relationship with ACORN, we should take action to protect the public from the corruption of the 2010 census,” Congressman Kirk said.  “To defend the integrity of the process, the Census Bureau should end its close relationship with ACORN’s close sister organization, the SEIU.”

"ACORN and the SEIU have a long web of connections in Chicago and around the country, and there's simply no place for a group so closely connected to ACORN to be part of something of such national importance as the U.S. Census,” Congressman Roskam said.  “In this time where this Congressional Majority is running record deficits, ACORN should have no place cashing checks from the American taxpayer. We were promised a more open and honest government--that means keeping ACORN from the federal trough."

"With the decision to end its affiliation with Acorn, the Bureau has shown its desire for a census of the highest integrity,” Congressman McHenry said.  “This is an opportunity to follow through on that commitment."

Official filings show that SEIU, referenced in the U.S. Attorney’s indictment of Governor Rod Blagojevich, contributed more than $4 million to ACORN and its affiliates since 2006.  According to recent Department of Labor filings, the SEIU employs ACORN Founder and ACORN International Chief Organizer Wade Rathke.  Mr. Rathke was recently exposed for running a cover-up of an embezzlement scheme run by his brother.

In Chicago, SEIU Local 880 and SEIU Local 1 contributed more than $230,000 to ACORN groups in Illinois and Texas since 2006 – the most recent to “support election efforts.”

SEIU Local 880, which until recently boasted it was founded by ACORN, used an ACORN e-mail address on its Web site and tax filings, was co-located with an ACORN “tax center” and employed the former president of ACORN Illinois, according to official records.   Recently, the IRS terminated is relationship with ACORN tax preparation offices.

In a 2006 end-of-year report issued by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, SEIU Local 880 recounted working with ACORN to reelect Governor Blagojevich and referred to ACORN as its “sister organization.”  A new report issued by the Committee in July reports SEIU and SEIU Local 880 are official members of the “ACORN Council,” according to whistleblower documents acquired by the Committee.

Earlier this year, SEIU Local 880 became “SEIU Health Care Illinois and Indiana”, located on the floor below ACORN Housing’s national headquarters and rents its own space from an ACORN front group called the “Chicago Organizing and Support Center” (COSC). 

Official documents show COSC registered at two addresses – one in Chicago (at the same address as SEIU Local 880/ACORN) and one in New Orleans (at the same address as ACORN New Orleans).  The Illinois Secretary of State’s Web site shows COSC’s incorporation status was revoked on September 11, 2009 – one day after the ACORN videos surfaced.  The Louisiana Secretary of State shows the group’s status active but not in good standing for failure to file its annual report.  The House Committee on Oversight’s July report also named COSC as a member of the “ACORN Council.”

The Congressmen also handed out a letter that was sent to the Census Bureau.

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September 28, 2009

Robert M. Groves

Director, U.S. Census Bureau

U.S. Department of Commerce

Washington, D.C. 20233

Dear Director Groves:

In February 2009, the U.S. Census Bureau signed a partnership agreement with the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN).  According to the Census, partner organizations “play an important role in making the 2010 Census successful” and “help recruit census workers.”  Following the release of undercover videos showing ACORN employees helping a fake pimp and prostitute illegally secure housing, the Census Bureau terminated its partnership with ACORN.

"Unfortunately, we no longer have confidence that our national partnership agreement is being effectively managed through your many local offices,” you wrote to the president of ACORN on September 11, 2009.  “For the reasons stated, we therefore have decided to terminate the partnership.”

On September 17, 2009, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 345-75 to prohibit federal funding for ACORN and ACORN-related affiliates, i.e. organizations that share directors, employees, or independent contractors with ACORN, have financial stakes in ACORN, or whose finances, whether federally-funded, donor-funded, or raised through organizational goods and services, are shared or controlled by ACORN.

Due to your concern for the activities of ACORN’s “many local offices” and the action taken by Congress to prohibit taxpayer funding for ACORN-related affiliates, we are writing to request that you immediately terminate your Census 2010 partnership with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).

On October 15, 2008, National Public Radio reported:

ACORN's biggest union backer, the Service Employees International Union, gave more than $4 million to the community organization and its affiliates from 2006-07, according to Dept. of Labor filings. One SEIU local union, the Illinois Homecare Workers and Home Childcare Providers, sprouted from ACORN's organizing efforts and pays rent to ACORN.

On September 16, 2009, the Washington Times reported that SEIU national president Andy Stern serves on ACORN’s advisory council.  According to his own Web site, ACORN Founder Wade Rathke is the “Founder and Chief Organizer” of SEIU Local 100.

According to recent filings with the Department of Labor for calendar year 2008, Rathke is employed by SEIU – a union part of the U.S. Attorney’s indictment of Governor Rod Blagojevich.  Rathke was also recently exposed as part of a cover-up to conceal an embezzlement scheme run by his brother.

In Chicago, SEIU Local 880 and SEIU Local 1 contributed more than $230,000 to ACORN groups in Illinois and Texas since 2006 – the most recent to “support election efforts.”

SEIU Local 880, which used to boast it was founded by ACORN, used an ACORN e-mail address on its Web site and tax filings, was co-located with an ACORN “tax center” and employed the former president of ACORN Illinois, according to official records. 

In a 2006 end-of-year report issued by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Local 880 recounted working with ACORN to reelect Rod Blagojevich and referred to ACORN as its “sister organization.”  A new report issued by the Committee in July reports SEIU and SEIU Local 880 are official members of the “ACORN Council,” according to whistleblower documents acquired by the Committee.

Earlier this year, SEIU Local 880 became “SEIU Health Care Illinois and Indiana”, which is located one floor below ACORN Housing’s national headquarters and rents its own space from an ACORN front group called Chicago Organizing and Support Center (COSC). 

Official documents show COSC registered at two addresses – one in Chicago (at the same address as SEIU Local 880/ACORN) and one in New Orleans (at the same address as ACORN New Orleans).  Surprisingly, the Illinois Secretary of State’s Web site shows COSC’s incorporation status was revoked on September 11, 2009 – one day after the ACORN videos surfaced.  The Louisiana Secretary of State shows the group’s status active but not in good standing for failure to file its annual report.  The Committee of Oversight’s report also named COSC as a member of the “ACORN Council.”

We support your decision to terminate the Census Bureau’s partnership with ACORN to protect the public good and defend the integrity of the Census.  Given SEIU’s co-location with ACORN in Chicago and SEIU’s intimate financial relationship with ACORN, you should take action to protect the public from the corruption of the 2010 census. 

To defend the integrity of the process, the Census Bureau should end its close relationship with ACORN’s close sister organization, the SEIU.

Sincerely, 

Mark Kirk                                                       Peter Roskam

Member of Congress                                              Member of Congress

Cc        Hon. Gary Locke, Secretary of Commerce