Acorn Will Be Paid

Officials have determined that in spite of a ban preventing the government from providing funding for the group, Acorn can still be paid for services rendered prior to the ban, largely because of the wording in a bill signed recently by President Barack Obama. David Barron, the acting assistant attorney general for the Office of Legal Counsel, said that the decision was based on the bill’s use of the term “provide,” which does not imply that pre-existing contracts should be ignored and that such a reversal would lead to questions of constitutionality. Acorn has received $53 million from the government since 1994, but officials have tried to create as much distance from the group as possible in light of recent scandals. “We are pleased that commitments will be honored relative to Acorn’s work to help keep America’s working families facing foreclosure in their homes,” an Acorn spokesman said.