Will Democrats cover up the AmeriCorps mess?

[Jessica Espinoza]

This story comes to you courtesy of the Washington Examiner, Byron York.
Here's come a Pulitzer!



Can Republicans in Congress get to the bottom of President Obama's sudden -- and suspicious -- decision to fire AmeriCorps inspector general Gerald Walpin? The answer is no -- unless some. Democrats show interest in what could possibly be the first scandal, or at least mini-scandal, of the Obama administration.

In dismissing Walpin, the president seemed to trample on the law -- a law he himself had co-sponsored as a senator -- that protects inspectors general from political influence and retribution. In addition, it appears that at least part of the reason Walpin was fired was for the tenacity he showed in investigating misuse of AmeriCorps money by a friend and supporter of the president, Kevin Johnson, the mayor of Sacramento, California. Walpin got the goods -- evidence of Johnson's serious misuse of federal dollars -- and the inspector general ended up getting fired for his troubles.

So the Walpin case is just the kind of thing the watchdogs of good government in the House and Senate might investigate. But Democrats enjoy solid majorities in both houses, and thus control what will be investigated, and how any investigation will proceed. As the minority party, Republicans have little power to do anything.

"We can't move something through a committee," says one Republican Senate aide. "We can't issue a subpoena. But we can write letters, and we can jump up and down."

That's pretty much what Republicans are reduced to doing now. They are asking the administration for information -- politely -- and are trying to get the message out through the press. That's all they can do.

They're not particularly optimistic about getting help from the other side. Would Majority Leader Harry Reid really have any interest in a tough probe of a Democratic White House, a Democratic AmeriCorps, and a Democratic mayor who just happens to be a friend of the president?

The committee that would normally be expected to look into the matter would be the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, which oversees AmeriCorps. But the chairman is Sen. Edward Kennedy, who in April joined President Obama to celebrate the passage of the $5.7 billion Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, which will triple the size of AmeriCorps. Kennedy is highly unlikely to support an investigation that might tarnish his favorite program.

Inspectors general as a whole are watched over by the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, headed by Sen. Joseph Lieberman. Some Republicans hope -- a little -- that Lieberman will lend a hand, but they're not holding their breath.

The one lawmaker who has shown real interest in investigating the AmeriCorps matter is Iowa Republican Sen. Charles Grassley. Throughout his career, Grassley has been something of a guardian angel for inspectors general, and he was on the Walpin case from the very beginning.

But Grassley is not just a Republican, he's also on the Senate Finance Committee, which really doesn't have much jurisdiction over this particular matter. So he did what Republicans can do -- he wrote a letter, to Alan Solomont, the former Democratic fundraiser who now heads AmeriCorps.

"It is vital that Congress obtain a full understanding of the role that you and your colleagues…played in these matters," Grassley wrote. "Inspectors General have a statutory duty to report to Congress. Intimidation or retaliation against those who freely communicate their concerns to members of the House and Senate cannot be tolerated. This is especially true when such concerns are as legitimate and meritorious as Mr. Walpin’s appear to be."

Grassley asked AmeriCorps to hand over all records and e-mails and documents and other information about the Walpin firing. But if Grassley is the only one doing the asking, the administration doesn't really have to comply.

In 1993, just after Bill Clinton was elected and Democrats controlled both the House and Senate, a lone Republican congressman, Rep. Bill Clinger, wanted to investigate the suspicious firings of the White House Travel Office staff.

But majority Democrats had no inclination to pursue the matter. Clinger tried and tried, wrote letter after letter, and jumped up and down, but he didn't begin to get results until after November 1994, when Republicans took control of both Houses of Congress.

When it comes to investigating allegations of wrongdoing, Republicans today are right back where they were in 1993.

[Barbara Howard]

Jessica, the answer is in the question. YES Democrats will cover up the AmeriCorps firing, which was illegal on its face. And that's just the beginning.

[Peach]

Great reporting.

[Amy Eldred]

We need to all support Grassley in his efforts and if you have a senator that might be willing to jump on board (or not) contact them. Bozo blatently broke the law! (A law he co-sponsored I might add)

[Jessica Espinoza]

Wow thanks girls for the fast response,I really appreciate it.

Now I am off to see how this story is doing on the lIberal sites!
Hahahaaaa!
Seriously I posted it to three other sites that are totally liberal=)
Hehheee

[Lynn Dartez]

The Usurper might appoint another CZAR over this.. They need to be kicked out on there behind...

[Nihcole]

What are you, a masochist? (RE: Posting on liberal sites.)

[Jessica Espinoza]

"What are you, a masochist? (RE: Posting on liberal sites.) "

Yep I sure am.
I really don't care anymore if I get attacked.I always get these private emails from the people on the sites saying "i agree woth you.But don't tell anybody" "Shhhssshhh"

So if I can get just one person to really look at what is going on and make them think about it.At least just think about.It is worth all the insults and put downs in world.

[Faith 1]

This all has to do with expansion of Americorps, paying out more money to Acorn, in control of our education system by way of controlling loans which in turn puts him in control of banks and lenders. I am sure that Walpin just got in the way of Obama's criminal tactics. Once he finishes off CitiGroup, he will then have full control of a bank! This along with control of everything he has or is pushing to gain, would insure he has all the sources he needs to implement anything, anytime he chooses! Obama comes across as a demwit most of the time. However, demwit he is not! He has an agenda, knows what to do to get it and he pushes stepping on as many toes as he needs to in order to get it. He is a ruthless, calculating, dictator in the making! If you anger him, he will make you pay for it. If you get in his way .. he will simply push you out of the way and use whatever resource available that he has to! Everyone has to remember that nothing is as it seems! There are well hidden agenda's to find in all his moves yet they are right there in front of our face at the same time!! Here are only two links and below is a Wikipedia in dispute because someone didnt want the bad to show with the good!!

http://www.nlpc.org/stories/2009/05/04/national-service-obama-wants...

http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/02/27/budget

Wikipedia Link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AmeriCorps#cite_note-19

Wikipedia .. this article is in dispute right now. You can read why here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:AmeriCorps

According to a 1998 report from Citizens Against Government Waste, AmeriCorps' operational cost amounted to $27,000 per volunteer per year.

In 2003, it was reported that AmeriCorps violated federal law by hiring more people than Congress had authorized, and had spent more money than was legally allowed.

In 1995, AmeriCorps gave a $1.1 million grant to an organization called Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN). The grant eventually had to be returned.

In 1999, President Bill Clinton claimed that AmeriCorps members have "taught millions of children to read." However, in an article by libertarian pundit James Bovard, one unnamed official said the real number is probably less than a dozen, and Robert Sweet, the former director of the National Institute of Education, labelled it "a fraud." Bovard noted that some AmeriCorps volunteers are themselves GED students and welfare recipients, but did not say if any were found tutoring children in reading. One reading tutor did tell Bovard, "We're not teaching them to read... You just want them to think they're doing a good job." Much of the time where literacy teaching was supposed to be taking place was instead spent putting on puppet shows.

In an article entitled "AmeriCorps: Six years of waste and fraud", Bovard reported that "in Indianapolis, AmeriCorps recruits busied themselves painting a giant mural on the side of a pawnshop." The article also states that as of 2000 nearly half of all AmeriCorps members quit the program before finishing their term of service.

Articles suggest that AmeriCorps volunteers assist citizens with applying for welfare, food stamps, and public housing, and one organization who works with AmeriCorps also lobbies the government for more rent control and public housing.

AmeriCorps gave a grant to an organization called Mississippi Action for Community Education, or MACE, which is located in Greenville, Mississippi, one of the poorest cities in the United States. Bovard described MACE's headquarters as "one of the fanciest buildings in town. The plush leather chairs in the waiting room were in stark contrast to the shabbiness of the neighborhood. Uncle Sam has obviously been good to MACE, which has received money from several federal programs over the years."

The Los Angeles Times reported in 1994 that AmeriCorps funded a project that used the program's recruits to protest "third-strike" legislation. AmeriCorps gave a grant of $2.5 million to the Casa Verde Builders Program to build energy efficient homes in Texas. At that time of writing, only 23 of the 64 AmeriCorps members who signed up completed their work. However, the Casa Verde Builders Program was still allowed to keep the entire grant for its ongoing program, and is still active and recruiting volunteers today.

There have been a number of criticisms leveled against AmeriCorps. Some have alleged that the program diverts some young people participating in the program from further education, or delays the start of their careers. It has also been argued that AmeriCorps sends the wrong message by implying that volunteers should be paid for community service work.

Because it is a federal program, AmeriCorps is criticized for overshadowing the community service organizations it "partners" with. In 1996, for example, it was estimated that more than one-fourth of AmeriCorps volunteers were placed in federal, state, or local government agencies, "where they would reinforce the bureaucratic state, not rebuild the voluntary sector." The program also draws criticism for channeling tax dollars to liberal advocacy groups and activities that conservative groups find morally questionable, such as sex-education training and "self-esteem" enhancement projects. There are concerns about AmeriCorps' economic model, as well as its hiring practices.

In June 2009, President Barack Obama removed inspector general Gerald Walpin who was investigating AmeriCorps from his position after he [Obama] had lost confidence in him. The Presidents' decision came after an investigation by Walpin's finding of alleged "misuse of federal grants by a nonprofit education group led by Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson". Walpin was criticized by the U.S. attorney in Sacramento regarding the way he handled an investigation of Johnson and St. HOPE Academy.


Pledge
The Pledge is taken by all AmeriCorps Members, who promise to uphold the duties of their position, and reads as follows:

I will get things done for America - to make our people safer, smarter, and healthier.
I will bring Americans together to strengthen our communities.
Faced with apathy, I will take action.
Faced with conflict, I will seek common ground.
Faced with adversity, I will persevere.
I will carry this commitment with me this year and beyond.
I am an AmeriCorps member, and I will get things done.
If passed, the 2002 Citizen Service Act (HR 4854), introduced by Representatives Pete Hoekstra (R-MI) and Tim Roemer (D-IN) on May 24, 2002, would have added references to God and the Constitution to the pledge. AmeriCorps members would be called upon to "support and defend the Constitution of the United States...without any mental reservation...So help me God."

Those who supported changing the pledge argued that taking the new pledge would be voluntary for AmeriCorps members, and that it was similar to the pledge taken by all federal employees. However, the proposal stirred an outcry among current and former participants in the federally supported community service organization, who argued that the proposed pledge was divisive, "militaristic and religious," and might deter recruitment.

Although the Citizen Service Act was approved by both the Subcommittee on Special Education and the Committee on Education and the Workforce in June 2002, the House of Representatives took no further action on the Measure, and the pledge remains unchanged.

[Bridget Geegan Blanton]

This is exactly the sort of thing we need to remember... Print out this article along with updates as they occur. Keep the facts, the names, the numbers in your memory... and Use it!

When we do voter registration and we are politely engaged with a voter in a conversation where we are helping them ( educating them ) to realize that in fact they are NOT a Democrat...we use these real life examples of corruption and unaccountability to point out what the Democrat party is - a gang of anti-constitutional elitists.

In the meantime, we should take the advice of that Senate Aide and keep the issue alive.

Bama and his fellow thugs are throwing so much crap at us at once they're confident we won't be able to stay on top of it. Wrong-o B.O.!

Be sure to add time to respond to this outrage on your 'to do' list .... one more letter...one more call and stay on top of the issue!

Simultaneous with the socialized medicine mess and this corruption is a little statement that came out of BO yesterday regarding the fact that he intends to cut missile defense. Hey, North Korea we're weakening nat'l defense...

This is exactly why all of us must remain engaged in the political process...it's dang time consuming anymore trying to save America but, unless we remain vigilant and exhort friends and family to act alongside us, to protect our liberty what will happen to freedom?

[Lori McMullen]

I emailed Senator Joseph Lieberman the head of the Homeland Security and Government Affairs committee. He is our best bet on Democrat side of the aisle. I just googled Senator Joseph Lieberman and clicked on "contact me". Please do the same. The more that email, the harder to ignore!