Paterson Puts Hold on State ACORN Contracts
Tags: ACORN, David Paterson, scandal
Note to Governor Paterson: this response to the ACORN scandal isn’t going to save your career.
In another blow to ACORN, Gov. Paterson put a hold Friday on all state contracts with the embattled anti-poverty agency.
Paterson’s budget director and director of state operations ordered agencies not to move forward on contracts with the group.
The hold will stay in place during a 30-day review of $400,000 worth of state contracts with ACORN and its parent, New York Agency for Community Affairs.
For starters, thirty days is probably enough time for the scandal to largely blow over and be pushed the back burner of everyone’s memories. NY ACORN probably sees the same thing and is actually painting the move by Paterson as a positive thing:
NY ACORN President Pat Boone said he has no problem with Paterson’s move.
“We welcome the governor’s review and are confident he will find that every state dollar we’ve received went directly to combating New York’s foreclosure crisis and helping tens of thousands of low-income New Yorkers access the Earned Income Tax Credit,” Boone said.
So, a “review” will happen, and in thirty days this “review” will result in ACORN’s contracts quietly be restored. By then, another story will be dominating the front pages, and Paterson looks like he acted decisively against ACORN yet maintains (or gains) their loyalty as he tries to save his political career.
Matt Margolis is co-author (with Mark Noonan) of Caucus of Corruption: The Truth About The New Democratic Majority. He also blogs at Blogs For Victory. Follow Matt on Twitter.
[...] hardly call this a victory. As Matt at the Buffalo Bean points out, this just gives Paterson cover while the controversy blows over. So, a “review” [...]
[...] hardly call this a victory. As Matt at the Buffalo Bean points out, this just gives Paterson cover while the controversy blows over. So, a “review” [...]