ACORN "disappointed" by U.S. Senate vote
 

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WASHINGTON, D.C. (BNO NEWS) -- ACORN on Monday said it is "disappointed" after the U.S. Senate voted to add an amendment to the 2010 Transportation Appropriations Bill that will end taxpayer funding for the controversial organization.

The bill passed with an overwhelming majority, in an 83 to 7 vote. The only Senators who voted in favor of supporting ACORN with taxpayer money were: Dick Durbin (D-IL), Roland Burris (D-IL), Robert Casey (D-PA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Patrick Leahy (D-NY), Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI).

ACORN has faced a lot of criticism over the past few weeks after undercover movies were released, showing ACORN staff advising on how to commit fraud. Staff members, at various locations, also advised on how to deploy underage girls, as young 13, as prostitutes.

"We're disappointed that the Senate took the rare and politically convenient step of supporting eliminating some federal funding for a single organization, one that has been the target of an historical political assault stemming variously from the Bush White House, Fox News, and other conservative quarters," said Bertha Lewis, CEO of ACORN, in a statement after the Senate vote. "Fortunately, ACORN derives most of its income from its members and other supporters, so the decision will have little impact on overall operations. Tonight's vote will burden the families who benefited from ACORN's important work to improve housing conditions in the United States."

ACORN earlier said the undercover footage was not only illegal, but also misleading and said the footage had been edited. "This recent scam, which was attempted in San Diego, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia to name a few places, had failed for months before the results we've all recently seen," Lewis said last Saturday.

Lewis also continues to blame Fox News, which has covered the story extensively over the last week, unlike most U.S. networks. "It is clear that the videos are doctored, edited, and in no way the result of the fabricated story being portrayed by conservative activist "filmmaker" O'Keefe and his partner in crime," Lewis added. O'Keefe portrayed a pimp in the videos while his "partner" portrayed a prostitute.

Lewis also said she intends to take legal action against Fox News "and their co-conspirators."

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