GOP challenges ACORN firefighting grant

WASHINGTON, Oct. 7 (UPI) -- A Republican senator wants the U.S. Homeland Security Department to rescind a nearly $1 million firefighting grant awarded the embattled advocacy group ACORN.

Sen. David Vitter, R-La., says the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now has no obvious expertise in firefighting and the money should instead go to fire departments in his state.

The Washington Times reported Wednesday that the Federal Emergency Management Agency, a branch of Homeland Security, sometimes sends firefighting funding to non-government community groups for projects such as arson-prevention awareness and the purchase of smoke detectors for poor people.

It was not clear what ACORN's Louisiana offices intended to do with the grant, although the organization works with poor and minority communities.

FEMA told the Times it had not yet distributed any of the money. There was no immediate comment from Homeland Security officials.

ACORN has been under withering attack for months from Republicans over its voter-registration efforts before the 2008 elections and more recently over videotapes showing staff giving tax advice to a couple posing as a pimp and prostitute. The group has been officially cut off from federal funding by Congress.

ACORN fired off a written statement that blasted Vitter but did not address the specifics of the grant, the Times said.