Last week, three state legislators asked Illinois Governor Pat Quinn for the review of state funding for the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) pending a review of the group’s activities. The trio includes Representative Ron Stephens (R-Highland), Senator Dave Luechtefeld (R-Okawville), and Senator Kyle McCarter (R-Lebanon):

“In light of the multiple news reports exposing ACORN’s questionable behavior, as well as video evidence showing ACORN employees offering tax assistance to open brothels and tips on how to launder money into a congressional campaign account, Illinois government needs to take a good, long look at the business it does with this organization,” Stephens said. “We need to see what this group is really up to and whether or not any contracts and connections they have with the state are worthy of the use of public money.”

Stephens said the organization has received grants from various state agencies. Stephens said he and some other legislators are still gathering information on how much money the organization has received.

One example of state funding is from an Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) report entitled “Illinois’ 2008 Annual Comprehensive Housing Plan – Annual Progress Report.” ACORN Housing was listed as receiving a $100,000 capacity building grant for the Predatory Lending Database Program. Why this didn't show up in the Comptroller's database is beyond me. Perhaps the IHDA can clarify.

CBS 2 Chicago interviewed two former ACORN Illinois staffers about their reasons for quitting the organization two years ago.

There's been some confusion over whether or not ACORN or ACORN Housing has a functioning Illinois office. We'll have more on that soon.

9/28 Update
Capitol Fax Blog is reporting that the Illinois Housing Development Authority gave ACORN Housing part of the $100,000 grant a few weeks ago, but that "the rest of that grant is under review and the money already distributed will be examined this week."