GOP plans more ACORN votes

Republicans are pushing for more measures to block federal funding from going to ACORN, the community organizing group and top target of conservatives.

Sen. Mike Johanns (R-Neb.) has sponsored another amendment prohibiting the use of federal money for ACORN in the Interior and environment appropriations bills. The vote on the amendment is expected to take place Thursday afternoon.

Earlier this week, a Johanns amendment banning federal cash for the group in the Transportation and Housing and Urban Development spending bill passed the Senate by a 83-7 vote.

The group had earned the ire of conservatives after some of its workers advised conservative activists dressed as a prostitute and a pimp on how to evade tax laws. ACORN has fired the employees who offered the advice and noted that the conservative activists, who secretly filmed the encounters, were turned away by other ACORN workers.

Democrats are largely on board with the new amendments. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) suggested to Johanns that his latest amendment be approved by unanimous consent, which would mean that it would pass without a recorded vote. Feinstein noted that Democrats she was willing to accept the amendment even though the Interior spending bill doesn't have any money for the group.

"There's a redundancy," Feinstein said. "This is going to have to be done every single appropriations bill, which doesn't seem to me to make very good sense."

But Johanns insisted on a roll call vote.

"This involves an organization that has a history of very serious problems," said Johanns, who has more anti-ACORN legislation planned.

He said he'll introduce a stand-alone bill that would block any federal money at all, whether from a spending bill or other government program, from going to the group.