No way they’ll allow defense contractors to be de-funded, even of they richly deserve it:
The congressional legislation intended to defund ACORN, passed with broad bipartisan support, is written so broadly that it applies to “any organization” that has been charged with breaking federal or state election laws, lobbying disclosure laws, campaign finance laws or filing fraudulent paperwork with any federal or state agency. It also applies to any of the employees, contractors or other folks affiliated with a group charged with any of those things.In other words, the bill could plausibly defund the entire military-industrial complex. Whoops…
…The weapons manufacturers might have a better line of defense in court, however. Immediately after the bill passed, Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), a constitutional whiz, noted that the measure appeared to be a “bill of attainder” — specifically targeting a company or organization or individual — and is therefore specifically barred by the Constitution. If it’s not targeted at one group, then Northrop Grumman is in trouble.
Reps. John Conyers (D-Mich.) and Barney Frank (D-Mass.) sent a letter to the Congressional Research Service on Tuesday asking it to clarify, among other things, if the Defund ACORN Act is constitutional.
via Whoops: Anti-ACORN Bill Ropes In Defense Contractors, Others Charged With Fraud.
It was dumb bit of knee jerk reaction by Congress and looks to ripe for a court challenge.
