JIM JORDAN 121 SourH OPERA STREFT

FoURTH DtsrRtcr, OHto BELTEFoNTATNE, OH 4331 1

(937) 292-4015
515 CANNoN HousE OFFEE ButLDtNG
WAsHtNGroN, DC 20515-3504
1202l. 225-2676 100 EAsr MA|N CRoss STREET
SurrE 201
FTNDLAY, OH 4584H861
http//iordan.house. gov
14191 42?-3210

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L|MA, OH 45805-2516
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COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND

GOVERNMENT REFORM lHurtinrytnn, lB@ Zfr5L 5-15n4 24 WEsr THrRo STREET
RooM 314
MaNSFTELD, OH 44!'02-1299
\4151 522-.5757

November 13,2009

Jennifer Brunner
Secretary ofstate
Campaign Finance Division
180 East Broad Street, 15th Floor
Columbus, OH432l5

Dear Secretary Brunner:

As Ranking Member ofthe Domestic Policy Subcommittee ofthe House

Oversight and Government Reform Committee, I write to request your assistance in
obtaining documents pertaining to the Association of Community Organizations for
ReformNow's ("ACORN") lobbying and election activities within Ohio. ACORN,
which is a nonprofit corporation registered in Arkansas, uses its numerous state chapters
to engage in political and election activities which go unreported to either federal, siate or
city governments. Your assistance is requested as part of an investigation into abuses by
ACORN and its affiliates oftaxpayer dollars and tax-exempt charitabte contributions.

_ According to an October 18 article in the Cleveland Plain Dealer, 'ACORN . . .

plotted,privately to help elect liberal congressional candidates in several2008 Ohio
races'"' The Plain Dealer further noted that, 'ACORN also discussed voteroutreach
efforts to help elect congressional and Statehouse candidates in specific races, including
the one in which then-incumbent Congressman Steve Chabot ultimately lost io
tRep.
Steven Driehaus]. Citing a Democratic pollster's optimistic analysis, ttLe ACORif plan
discussed challengers who could potentially defeai another Southwest Ohio Republican,
U.S. Rep. Jean Schmidt, although Schmidt went on to win. In a more competitive race,

t
Stephett Koff, ACORN!l! rtan that critics say would have helped Democrats in key ohio
congressional
races in 2008,Cleveland Plain Dealer, Oct. 18, 2009, available it
n *.cleveland.com/open/inde*.ssfl2009110/acorn hadJlan tlut critics_$a.hryll (last visited Oc1
b!fp://ot
22,2009).
Ms. Brunner
November 13,2009
Page2
ACORN planned to use its so-called swing voter program to help [Rep. Mary-Jo] Kilroy
carry a Columbus-area congressional district. "2

While ACORN has claimed that its final actions differed from those detailed in
the Ohio Political Plarq3 news reportsa have made clear that ACORN did in fact take
significant actions in the Ohio congressional races targeted in its political plan. The
Ohio Political Plan stated, 'ACORN will target . . . a half dozen state rep seats nested
within the [federal] districts. Our electoral work will mobilize and educate voters about
candidates . . . ." The Ohio Political Plan listed Connie Pillictr, Denise Driehaus, Steve
Black, Jen Pihlaj4 Ted Celeste, and Jason Wilson as Democratic candidates ACORN
targeted for election purposes.s

Documents pertaining to ACORN's activities in other states further demonstrate

the organization's purposeful intention to use election efforts to assist specific candidates.
In a document received by the Oversight Committee entitled "Oklahoma Political Plan,"
ACORN stated, "ACORN members and, organiz€rs across the country are working to
organize independent and low frequency voters around a progressiv e agenda."6
Moreover, the document stated, "Oklahoma ACORN has identified 4 key districts to
target in the 2008 electioffi[,]" and then provided a chart of these legislative districts.T
The Oklahoma Political Plan is hauntingly similar to the Ohio Political Plan.

According to the Ohio Revised Code:

[N]o nonprofit corporation . . . directly or indirectly, shall pay or

use, or offer, advise, consent, or agree to pay or use, the
corporation's money or property . . . including dues, initiation fees,
or other assessments paid by members, or property, for or in aid of
or opposition to a political party, a candidate for election or
nomination to public office. . . .8

It appears that ACORN used corporate funds to create the Ohio Political Plan and
use it to ensure ACORN's voter registration efforts successfully aid Democratic
candidates for public office. I am concerned ACORN has submitted fraudulent filings
and failed to abide by the lobbying and election rules set forth by your office as part of a
scheme to abuse tax-exempt and taxpayer funds. I am therefore requesting your
assistance in obtaining the following:

2
Id.
3
Z00Z-08 OHIO Pol Plan-Draft2b - Copy.rtf (on file with author).
o
Alfonso Serrano, Frqud Charges Against ACORN, CBS Npws, Oct. 2,2006, available st:
http://u'ww.cbsnews.corn/stories/2006/10/02lpolitics/main2056802.shtml (last visited Oct. 20, 2009); see
also Pan Fessler, Republicans Attack Acorn's Voter Registraflozs, NPR, Sept. 28, 2008, qvailable at:
bttp://www.nor.ors/tsrnplates/story/story.php?storvId:95142905 (last visited Oct. 20, 2009).
s
Supranote3 atll-13.
6
Oklahoma Political Plan.doc (on file with author).
1Id.
t Orno Rev.
Cone 3599.03(AXl).
Ms. Brunner
November 13,2009
Page 3
l. The statement ofregistration for ACORN, its affiliates, including Project Vote,
and anyregistered lobbyist employed by ACORN or its affiliates in Ohio.

2. Filings with your office from 2007 to the present for ACORN and its affiliates.

3. Investigatory materials, reports and findings, publications relating to litigation, or

fines and penalties assessed concerning the election activities of ACORN and its
affiliates.

4. All correspondence, including electronic communications, between your office

and executives, staffor members ofACORN or its affiliates.

For purposes of your response to this letter, ACORN and its affiliates includes but
is not limited to: ACORN, Project VoteA/oting for Americ4 Inc., Citizens Consulting
Inc. ("CCl'), Citizens Services Inc. ("CSI"), ACORN Housing Corporation ("AHC"),
ACORN Community Labor Organizing Center ('ACLOC"), American Institute for
Social Justice ("AISJ"), SEIU Local 100, SEIU Local880, ACORN Institute, ACORN
Votes, Communities Voting Together ("CVT"), ACORN Political Action Committee
("APAC"), and the Working Families Party/Association (*WFP").

The Committee on Oversight and Govemment Reform is the principal oversight

committee in the House of Representatives and has broad oversight jurisdiction as set
forth in House Rule X.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. If you have any questions regarding
this request, please contact Ray Yonkura at (202) 225-2676.

Sincerely,

on Domestic Policy
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

Enclosure

cc: Chairman Edolphus Towns

Ranking Member Darrell Issa
Chairman Dennis Kucinictq Subcommittee on Domestic Policy