Good news on the anti-corruption front

Byron York reports in the Washington Examiner that the Census Bureau has severed its relationship with the organized crime syndicate known as ACORN.

In the wake of devastating video reports revealing corruption at local offices of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, or ACORN, the U.S. Census Bureau has cancelled its agreement calling for ACORN to work on the 2010 census.

"The Census Bureau has established criteria for partnerships…and reserves the right to decline partnership or terminate an existing partnership agreement with any group that 1) may create a negative connotation for the Census Bureau; 2) could distract from the Census Bureau's mission; or 3) may make people fearful of participating in the census," wrote Census Director Robert Groves in a letter today to ACORN President Maud Hurd. "To that end…we are today terminating our Partnership Agreement with ACORN."

ACORN, and its affiliated organizations across the country, are set to receive upwards of $4 billion in federal funding through the stimulus. The Obama Administation has been aggressively working to turn over large parts of next year's decennial census to ACORN, which would have put a group dedicated to rampant voter fraud in charge of counting voters.

For continuing coverage of ACORN corruption, check out Andrew Brietbart's new site, Big Government. Michelle Malkin is also a great source for ACORN's antics.

Nice insurance company you got. Shame if anything happened to it.

Congressman Henry Waxman has decided that holding a gavel in Washington means he can shake down companies that fail to back nationalized health care, demanding information from the companies and threatening Congressional investigations.

Newt Gingrich summarizes the latest tactic in the ObamaCare Shakedown in the pages of the Washington Examiner.

Imagine that. An investigation of health insurance compensation launched by two powerful Democratic House Committee Chairmen in the midst of a coordinated campaign to vilify health insurance companies.

As far as intimidation tactics go, this latest move by Waxman and Stupak makes the White House's effort to "flag" online political opponents look small time.

Waxman and Stupak are attempting to use raw political power to silence their opponents, plain and simple. If that's not the case, why single out one sector of healthcare and not others, like physician groups, hospitals, and drug companies? Could it be because many of these groups have publicly supported the emerging Democratic legislation?

Such blatant abuse of power would get a prosecutor fired or indicted. But this is Congress. Waxman and company are using the power of government in an attempt to stifle political opponents, and force an unpopular government health care program into law. We're pretty cynical about such abuses these days, but such strong-arm tactics should not be condoned.

Broder exposes PAYGO loophole

In the Washington Post, columnist David Broder shows why the recent move to reinstate Pay-As-You-Go budget controls has been built to fail:

It could do just the opposite. The bill says that at the end of the year, if Congress has spent more on new entitlements or tax cuts than it has saved, the president can roll back or sequester the excess. But the Congressional Budget Office, the official scorekeeper, warned in a July 14 memo that, as introduced, the bill might allow spending to increase -- and by a staggering amount.

"In effect," it said, "that rule would allow the Congress to enact legislation that would increase deficits by an amount in the vicinity of $3 trillion over the 2010-2019 period without triggering a sequestration." (more)

White House moves to restrict criticism of stimulus projects

Mark Tapscott looks at the White House's growing frustration with criticism of the stimulus package, and the Administration's moves to shut people up:

A new White House policy on permissible lobbying on economic recovery and stimulus projects has taken a decidedly anti-First Amendment turn. It's a classic illustration of Big Government trying to control every aspect of a particular activity and in the process running up against civil liberty.

Check out this passage from a post on the White House blog by Norm Eisen, Special Counsel to the President on Ethics and Government Reform (emphasis added):

"First, we will expand the restriction on oral communications to cover all persons, not just federally registered lobbyists. For the first time, we will reach contacts not only by registered lobbyists but also by unregistered ones, as well as anyone else exerting influence on the process. We concluded this was necessary under the unique circumstances of the stimulus program.

"Second, we will focus the restriction on oral communications to target the scenario where concerns about merit-based decision-making are greatest –after competitive grant applications are submitted and before awards are made. Once such applications are on file, the competition should be strictly on the merits. To that end, comments (unless initiated by an agency official) must be in writing and will be posted on the Internet for every American to see.

"Third, we will continue to require immediate internet disclosure of all other communications with registered lobbyists. If registered lobbyists have conversations or meetings before an application is filed, a form must be completed and posted to each agency’s website documenting the contact."