Democrats in Congress are abandoning an embattled community organizing group after Republicans stepped up attacks on the liberal-leaning ACORN and the federal funding it receives.

Majorities of Senate and House Democrats voted Thursday in favor of separate Republican proposals to block federal funding for the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now.

The group has come under heavy criticism following the release Monday of a video showing ACORN employees apparently advising a couple, posing as a prostitute accompanied by her pimp, about how to conceal their line of work, evade taxes and handle undocumented, under-age sex workers.

In the Senate, 45 Democrats and Joseph I. Lieberman , I-Conn., backed an amendment — offered by Nebraska Republican Mike Johanns — to bar any funds provided under the fiscal 2010 Interior Appropriations bill to go to ACORN.

Even with Dianne Feinstein , D-Calif., chairwoman of the relevant appropriations panel, insisting that the spending bill provided no funds to the group, the Senate adopted the amendment, 85-11.

Hours earlier, the House voted, 345-75, to adopt a procedural motion by California Republican Darrell Issa adding language to a student-loan bill requiring no federal funding be directed to ACORN. On the vote, 172 Democrats joined 173 Republicans backing the move.

Republicans, who have had the community organizing group in their sights long before the recent scandal, seized on the votes as a sign that public opinion was tilting against the group.

“Now that some of the abusive practices are finally coming to light, I think it’s galvanized public opinion, and it’s reflected in the votes of members of Congress,” said Texas Sen. John Cornyn , chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee.