US Representative Mark Kirk, a Republican senate-hopeful, said Monday that he believes the US Census should cut its ties with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), because it potentially compromises the integrity of the census. Although Kirk acknowledged that SEIU funding has been very helpful, he felt that the union's ties to ACORN were potentially harmful. In Illinois, SEIU severed its official ties to ACORN two years ago, but their census group was originally founded by the controversial organization. The union replied by saying that Kirk was making false accusations, and degrading the contributions of everyday workers who wanted to be involved in the political process. Kirk has said that he will donate the census monies he has already received from SEIU to charity.
See "Mark Kirk: Census shouldn't involve SEIU because of its link to ACORN", Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, September 28, 2009