On Friday, the Department of Justice released a ruling it issued Monday, outlining its arguments that federal agencies can continue providing taxpayer funds to ACORN.
The Justice Department interpretation lays the groundwork for federal agencies to resume paying ACORN, despite a Congressional-ban on public funds going to the troubled organization. The ruling argues that nothing in the funding prohibition prevents federal agencies from giving ACORN taxpayer funds for existing contracts between the organization and the federal government.
It should be noted that the ACORN funding ban is included within the current Continuing Resolution, a legislative vehicle to fund government operations until a full budget is enacted. Without the CR, no federal funds could be expended by any agency. Under the current CR, ACORN is prohibited from receiving federal funds. Justice is arguing that some existing contracts entered into the executive branch officials–which haven’t been disclosed to the public–supercede the Congressional legislation. But only Congress can dictate how funds are spent.
The ruling seems to be an interpretation in search of a loophole. Worse, it seems the Justice Department is trying to find a way to allow ACORN to continue receiving government funds, rather than a dispassionate analysis of the funding ban passed by Congress.